
Glass. \lA^ 




Souvenir 



OF THK 



SherburneCentennial 

CELEBRATION 

AND DEDICATION OF MONUMENT TO THE PROPRIETORS 
AND EARLY SETTLERS, 

HELD OX 

Wedqesdqy, Jqije 21st, 189*;j. 



ALSO SKETCHES OF FAMILIES AND OTHER 
HISTORICAL DATA. 



PUBLISHED RV 



M A R C I U S D . R A Y M O i\ D 



TARRYTOWX, N. V. : 
1893- 



F/ 



X 



-tj'TA RRYTOWN ARGUS" PRINT. >»- 

r2 ^ s 9 



P R P: F A C E . 

The publication of the proceedings at the celebration of the 
Centennial of Sherburne, a fitting finale to that notable occasion, 
"VN^as made possible by the liberality of the subscribers to the 
Monument Fiuid, an overplus remaining in the hands of the 
undersigned after all other expenses were prt)vided for, which it 
was thought could not be better expended than in the way of 
issuing this volume, a copy of -which to be presented to each 
subscriber tt) the Forefathers' Monument as a Centennial souvenir, 
thus preserving in suitable and attractive form the history of that 
highly interesting event, which would be especially prized by 
those wdio vjere unable to be present, and would in itself be a 
valuable record of the annals of the to^s^'n. 

So the -work was tmdertaken, and carried forward to comple- 
tion, although attended with some unexpected and unavoidable 
delay. As will be seen, an appendix containing interesting and 
valuable data connected with the history of Sherburne, has 
been added to the Centennial proceedings, so that the record may 
be preserved for future reference. 

With this sim]5le statement this Centennial \-olume is issued in 
the h<i])e that it may lie of interest to all who shall receive it, 
and that the appreciation with which it is received will be 
a sufficient justification for its publication. 
Tarrytown, \'. V., Oct. i, 1893. 

M. D. R.WMOND. 



C O X T V. NTS. 



PAOE 

Pkki.iminaky, ..... j_7 

Address ok Welcome, ..... S-io 

Presentation OK MoNUMKNT, ... 11-15 

Response, ...... 16 

Centennial Orai'ion, ..... 17-25 

Centennial Poem, .... 26-31 

Historical Address, ..... 32 Oi 

Evening Exercises, ..... 62-63 

Centennial Letters, .... 64-69 

Monument Account, ..... 70-71 

Sherburne Congregational Chl'rch. (With illustrations) - - 72-75 

West Hill Church, (With illustrations) - - - 76-83 
Family Sketches, (With portraits) - - - 84-97. 101 -105 
Physicians of Sherburne, - - - - .98 

Miscellaneous Memoranda, - - - - 99. io7 

Finis, with View of Old River Bridge, ... 100 

Addenda, ...... 101-108 

Jn Memoriam, ...... 106 

Old Assessment Roll for 1801, .... 108 



I L L 11 S T R A r I n N S . 

Views of Sherburne, .... Frontis Piece 

Vif:ws ok Centennial Monument. 

Six Portraits ok Proprietors with Autographs. 

Page ok Portraits ok Descendants ok the "Fathers." 

Portraits with Family Sketches. 

Picture of Rexiokd Falls. 

Portrait of Col. Wm. S. Smith. 

Fac Simile of old School Report. 

Fac Simile ok Old Map ok Proprif.tors. 



The Sherburne Centennial. 




I I^ celebration of the Centennial of Sherljurne was 
fittingly accomplished on Wednesday, the 2 1st of June. 
! It was well to be done, and it ■wasAvell done. The e\-ent 
-^ so ctjmmeniorated was dignified by the manner of its 
commemoration. In the inception it was modesth' undertalcen, 
and it was carried forward w'ith dignity to the close. All the 
addresses and utterances of the occasion Avere on the lines of the 
social, political and religious theses of the Fathers. There ^vas 
no apology for their Puritanism or their patriotism; no withhold- 
ing of tribute or of praise. The crown of laurel was lovingly 
placed upon them by their lo\-al descendants. 

The celeliration may be said to have grown out of the purpose 
to erect a Monument to the earl}- settlers, the preliminar\' move- 
ments toward which were made some time pre\ious, and the 
dedication of which was an important feature of the Centennial 
e.xercises. 

The formal organization for the Centennial took place at a 
conference of citizens hehl in Sherburne on Tuesdav evening, 
January 31, 1893, with Geo. W. Lathrop, Chairman, Charles A. 
F"uller, Secretary, and Geo. R. Whitmore, Treasurer. At a later 
met'ting it was decided that the celebration be held on tlie 2 1st of 
June, and the foUo^ving appointments %vere made : 

President of the Day, — Hox. D.WH) L. FOLI.ETT, of Norwich, N. Y. 

Orator, — Rev. Lewis Ray Foote, D. D., of Brooklvn, N. Y. 

Poet, — Philo L. Hatch, M. D., of Santa Barbara, California. 

Historian, — Marcius Denisox RaV-Moxh, of Tarrvtown, N. Y. 
All of whom in due time formally accepted the honoralile offices 
so tentlered them. 



CKNTKN'MAI. CO.M.M ITI EES. 

At a imx'tinL;' holil I^'riday c\'cnini;\ May \2. the I'ullowin;^ ])rc- 
liniinar\' action ^vas talvc-ii : 

It \v;is unanimously voted that the exercises he held on the grounds of the Congrega- 
tional Church. 

That tlie clergymen of the town be a committee to extend an invitation to all ministers 
who have resided in Sherburne. 

That I). L. Atkyns, Esq., and Stephen Holden. Esq., be a committee to extend a like 
invitation to all members of the bar who have residc<l here. 

'I'hat the doctors of tlie village be a like committee to extend an invitation to all physi- 
cians who have resided here. 

That Charles L. Walker, Charles L. Carrier and Edson L. Whitney be a committee to 
invite all merchants who have resided in Sherburne. 

That Lucius Newton, David Dart and Andrew Davis lie a committee to invite farmers 
who have resided here. 

'I'hat the Sherburne Brass Band be invited to furnish music for the occasion. 

That M. D. Botsford, H. H. Tucker and E. R. Failing be a committee on music. 

That some descendant of a first settler and a contril)utor to the mottument be requested 
to present the same to the town, and that Albert R. Gladwin, Supervisor, accept the same 
in behalf of the town. 

That Stephen Holden, Rev. J. C. Barber and George W. Lathrop be a committee on 
progi'am. 

That Charles L. Kershaw be a committee to solicit funds. 

That John H. O'Brian be a committee to invite jirinters who have resided here. 

That (Jeo. W. Lathrop be a committee on Centennial Exhibit. 

That the \'illage Oflfieers be a reception committee to see to it that the hospitalities of 
the village be extended to visitors. 

The fiillowiiiu; Comniitti.'i.' to ha\-c- (.-hartiie of the exercise.-s on 
Centennial day ^^•as also appointed : 

Gkiikck W. LvTHKop, Georgk B. Wiiiimokk, As.\ Foot, 

CiiARi.KS A. FuLLKK, Lewis A. V/\N Wac.n KK, M. D., Stephp;n Hoi.de.n, 

J. Hawlev Benedict, John H. O'Brian, Albert R. Gi.aiiwin. 

()k1)i:r dk iiii: n.w. 
The foliowinLj was the order ot e.vereise.-^ for Centennial day: 

At sunrise a salute will be fired from Hunt's Mountain, and the bells of the village 
churches will be rung. 

E.xereises on the Congregational Church grounds, commencing at i r. m., as follows: 

Music by the Band, "Old Sherburne. " 

Prayer by Rev. Edmund M. Mills, Ph. D., D.D., Elmira 

Music by the Band. 

Address by President of the Day, Hon. David L. FoUett, Norwich. 

Address of Welcome by Dr. Homer G. Newton, Sherbin-ne. 

Music liy the Band. 

Unveiling of the Monument by Plumb Post, G. A. R., No. 493. 

Presentation of Monument by Mr. (Jeorge W. Lathroj), Sherliurne. 

Response by All:)ert R. Gladwin, Sui)ervisor, Slicrbiu'ne. 

Music by the Band. 

Oration by Rev. Lewis Ray Foote, D.D., Brooklyn. 

Music by the Band. 

Poem by Dr. Philo L. Hatch, Santa Barbara, CaUfornia. 

Historical Address by Marcius D. Raymond, Tarrytown, N. Y. 

Reception in the evening at the Church parlors. Reee]ition Committee. President and 
Trustees of the \'illage. 



CENTENNIAL EXERCISES. 7 

The toIli)\vin,L!; cxcerjjts s^ivinii; some account of the exercises are 
taken from the columns of the Sherburne Nctus, which juililished 
a full and handsoniel)- illustrated report of the proceedin,i;-s : 

"A slight shower Tuesda\' night partially laid the dust which 
had accumulated so deeph' uijon our streets, and Wednesday 
dawned clear, with every i>rospect of a charming day — in fact 
the day was all that the most ardent friends of our Centennial 
could ask for. Many dwelling houses were neatly decorated and 
a gala-dav appearance was manifest. The ringing of bells antl 
the firing of d\-namite ushered in the day. 

"The monument ^\-as in ]josition, and was all that could be 
desired. A convenient platform had been erected upon the church 
green and chairs placed under the trees for the accommoilation of 
the large audience present prepared to honor this first hinidredth 
anni\'ersary of our township. Upon the platform were man\- of 
the oldest and most representative of Chenangf)'s citizens, besides 
manv frcnn other sections of the country, -who were descendants 
of the pioneers whose earl}- struggles were thus commem- 
orate^l. 

"Shortly after two o'clock the meeting was called to order by 
Judge Holden, who apologized for the absence of Judge Follett, 
his official tluties making it impossilile for him to lie ])resent. In 
his absence, Hon. Walstene D. Pudney, of Cleveland, Ohio, a 
member of the legislature in liis adopted state, and a nati\-e of 
this place, ^vas called upon to preside. Upon taking the chaii-, 
the chairman spoke of the (lisai(]:>ointment felt by all for the 
absence of Judge Follett, as he would have spoken words %vhich 
would have lieen refreshing. But he could not let the occasion 
pass without a word or two. He referred feelingly to the tv^'o 
handsome memorial columns on the green, both rejjresenting 
principles sacred to every son of Sherburne. Such occasions as 
these are of the greatest benefit in purifying and enobling society 
and the state. 

"Prayer was then offered by Rev. PLdmund M. Mills, Ph. D., 
D. D., of Elmira, in which he invoked God's blessing on this 
community, its churches, its schools, and its people." 



ADDRESS OF WELCOME. 



CV HUMKK G. NEWION, M. I). 




I-'r lends and (hicsts of Sherburne : 

Itis a pli-'asant task assigned to inc, on 
hc'lialf (>r the citizens of Slierbiirne, to 
\\elconu- \'ou to your old home, or that 
of \-oiir fatiiers. It is dif'Heult to real- 
ize the emotion with ^vhi^■h many of 
\'on revisit the scenes of your earl\' 
life. \'ou talk' o\-(.'r with friends tlu' 
old da\'s and \iiii almost live again in 
•^them. \'ou are l)o\'s and girls together 
in the old home. Father and mother 
are there, brothers and sisters and 
frientis di'ar, and lung dead it ma\" he, 
f%s^^^=^'^' li\-e again in your memory. J-^aeh has 

his treasure of mentory, saci-ed to himseik Hut it is not for 
pleasure alone that we are met to-day. You have come as 
pilgrims v a shrine. 

Some of vou are proud to trace }-our lini'age to the first families 
of Sherburne. You come not only with an offering of veneration 
and love, but you bring a memorial to the kithers fitting and ac- 
ceptable. What more lifting than this granite memorial td the 
men of granite \\diiim it mi^'mnrializes. We. too. citizens ot 
Sherburne, claim in some sense, to be sons ot the lathers ^vith 
you. For have we not a valuable heritage from them — lands and 
homes, institutions, religion and patriotism .' 

Different is the welcome given you to-day from that which the 
fathers received. If I remember the record aright, as Columbus 
had his Viking ])redecessor, so the fathers were not the first upon 
the soil of Sherbui-ne. A ^\•oman was here before them, and slu' 
welcomed them royally, lirewing her beer and liaking bread for 
their entertainment. 



ADDRESS OF WELCOME. 9 

But if l()\'e]\' ^voman ^VL•ll.■(ln^e(l tlK-m, and if ](i\-cly women 
stanclilv stood l)csi<.k' tlicin ; if the Indian was gentle and true to 
them, \'et it Avas a wild \vnnt\ into ^vhieh they came. They ^vere 
surrounded In- sombre mai^'nificence. Many centuried ])ines oc- 
cupii-Ml the huid. Your fathers were weicomeil to a stur<ly eon- 
quest of homes under a thousand difficulties. But these men who 
had conquered freedom for themselves were equal to cfinquering 
for freedom a land ^\■orthy of it. 

These men and ^vomen, and a himdred bands lik'e them, after 
the Revolution pushed westv^'ard and nortliAvard and southward 
to la\- founilations deep and Avide and ■wise for a majestic rejiublic 
of freemen. The\' did not build l)etter than the}' kne^\'. We 
honor the men thtit gave themselves to preserve the Union, the 
\-aliie of which thev well kne^v from personal experience and a 
ha])])\- history. But these men, Avith a vast faith in a freedom 
whieh thc\- had seen in a vision, fought l)ra\'elv to attain it, and 
then when battles were ended, set themselves to building the 
purest democracies the Avorld has ever seen — town bv to^vn and 
state l>v state, until a great Union by free men ^vas jjossible. 

II' such justice and regard for the rights of men as early 
Shcrluirne ])resented, if such reverence and obedience to God and 
His laws were common throughout the land to-day, then indeed 
Would the state be worth iH-eser\'ing even at the cost of millions 
of lives and billions of money. 

Ikit I will not trespass further ujjon the ju-ovince of the his- 
torian. It were ungracious to keep you standing upon the 
threshold when so rich a feast is waiting for you. So again in 
tlu- name of Sherburne I give you welcome. In s])irit, too. \ve 
^\'ouM shake hands with many throughout the laiid ^\•hom busi- 
ness engagements, distance, feebleness or age have forbidden to 
meet witli us to-day. And especially would \\-e send the greetings 
of Sherburne to that good old mother of patriots in the mountains 
of North Carolina, w^hose precious memories of Sherburne a 
hiuidred _\-ears have not dimmed. How gladly were she here, 
Avould we take her around the old home, and sho\v her the 
beautiful land that has been evolved from the wilderness. Her 
heart wouhl warm at the fulfilment of the fathers' plans. The 



lO ADDRKSS OF WKI.COM K. 

wilil-wiiod is i;-i)iK\ an<l in its i)l;K'e aro t'l-rtile fit-jils and lKi])])y 
liomcs. Grot-Mi valK-ys ami iiiils lit,- i>\K-n X'< tlic siinlii^ht Heckcd 
with beautit'ui sliadows. Cjcntly siopin-^ uplands are covered witli 
contented flocks and herds. There is beauty everywhere. Go up 
on the hillsides on a da\- in sjjrin.y;, or in leafy Jiuie, in hazy 
Septi-'Hilier or <;-olden October, and j^reater beauty you will not 
behold this side the heawnly hind. 

Welcome, dear fri(,'nds, and when \-our feet shall turn this way 
again we promise \'ou lrt_-sh welcome. And "after life's fitlul 
fever" is o\-er, and \'ou woidd rest, old Mother Earth hath ni.) 
warmer spot u])on her bosoni than wdiere the fathers pitched 
their ti^Mits. 

UNVEII.IXC; TIIK MU.NL.MEXT. 

" Upon the conclusion of Dr. Newton's admirable address, and 
while the Rand played. Plumb Post G. A. R., by special invita- 
tion present, stood in a hollow scpiare around the monument, and 
the <lraper\- ^\•as lifted by Miss Carrie ]\. Raymond, the dau;,.^h- 
ter of A. G. Ravmond, a member of the Post, and ,i;reat-grand- 
dau<jhter of Xewcomlj Ra\'mond, one of the original ]:)ro])rietors, 
who assisted in the captun^' of Lord Cornwallis and his army at 
Yorktown in ijHt. And it was a \-ery i)retty })icture that was so 
presented. 

"The handsome ]iile of granite now stootl to view, an emblem 
which it wcuild seem another lunidred \-ears of time could not 
affect, commemorative of the hardships and perseverance of those 
few hardy ]>ioneers wlio Hrst l)ra\-ed the ])erils of the wilderness 
to make themseh'es a honu'. It was uni\-ersally admiiX'd, as 
being in style and matt.'rial typical of the men ;uid times which 
it commemorates. " 

The presentation of the monument was then made by Mr. 
George W. Lathrop, of Sherburne, a descendant of one ot the 
first proprii.'tors. 



1 1 



PRESENTATION OF iMONUMENT. 

Bv (;k()R(;e \v. lathroi'. 

Mr. President, Ladies and (ieii/leiiieii, and Fellow Citizens of S/ier- 
l>!irne : 

I ^Vln.ll(l like to bring before ymir niimls, tlie name of (ine (if the 
sons cif Sherburne, who is, aljsent, not bein;j; af)le In endure so hmg 
a journe\-. ( )ne who was born but a stone's throw from this spot, 
\vho in boyhoinl played and walked in these streets, and who in 
later _vears beautified them with trees whieh now shade our walks ; 
\vho still later, \\'ende<l his wa\' \vestward, and finall_\' made a 
beautiful home in Janesville, Wis. I refer to Mr. John De Witt 
Rexford. He has had from the first a g'reat interest in the Sher- 
burne Centennial, and freeh' used l)oth monev and inlluence to^vard 
the monument just iui\'eiled, and it is he \vho shouhl liave had the 
honor instead of m\'self, of presenting so beautiful a structure to 
the good people of Sherburne. 

The erection of a Mimunient or Memorial Stone to be dedicated 
at this Centennial on which should be engra\'en some of tlie pri- 
me\l facts in the history of this to^\•n, and on \vhich shouhl alstj 
appear the names of some of those who ^vere most prominently 
connected \vith its early settlement, suggested itselt as a thing 
very appropriate to be done in connection with this celebration. 
So the work ^vas undertaken on the proper basis that the 
fund for that ])urpose should f)e made up entireh' In' the descen- 
dants of the jjroprietors and early settlers whose memory should 
be so perpetuated. And it is ver}- pleasing in this connection to 
be able to say, that the resjxmse has been heartv, generous, and 
sufficient. It was fitting that the stone selected should be plain 
and massive, rather than ornamental, typical of the times and 
the men, whose character was as firm and imyielding as this 
Ouincy granite, a name distinctively associated Avith patriotism 
as -svell as witii the grand old commonwealth of Massachusetts, 
whieh was the early home of the ancestors of most of the 
pioneers of Sherburne. 



r 
12 rKKSKNTA HON OKMOMMKNI'. 

Till- iKuiU's (if tlu' i,'K'\>'ii l'i-ci])rii.'ti IPS, so c;il K-il, |)rii|>i.-rly a]i])i'ar 
■ii))(iii till' Irimt (if this MiiiiuiiK-nl wliicli has Just hi-i'ii iin\'i.-ilc-il 
ill \'(nii" [iiX'SLMUf. AikI hrst anmni;' them, liy common consent at 
tiic licad of the list, is the hundi-c.l nanu' of Natlianicl Gray, tlic 
])alriarch and icaiK-r of the new settlement, — a man of sovnid 
judii;nient and hii;-li chai-aeteT. 1 h.- liad l)ee'n an olHeLT in ihi.' 
l*"reiieh war, in C'apt. I'dmoi'e's t'ompaiu I mm Sharon, Conn. ; had 
man-ied lor liis first \\-ilc, Dehoraii, the daut^hter of Deacon 
Melatiah Lalhro]), theri of Dover I'lains, N. Y. He was an early 
pioneer in i^iehmoml, ]k'rl<shii-e Co., Mass., was afterwards 
of Kent, Conn., and Duanesburt^h, N. Y. ; was of the ])arty 
of ])ioncers wlio pros|)eeti,'il for new homes in tlie valK-y ot the 
ChenanL;M, and ]>ersonall\- made the contract for tile l'roi)rii.-tors; 
was one of the deacons chose-n at tin- or;^'anizat ion ot the I'irst 
CongrcLijationa] Clnirch, ami was the first Justice ot the Peace 
ajjpointcd \\ithin tlie ])iX'sent limits of the town of Sherburne. 
He continued to reside here until his death, \\ liieh occurred June 
24th, iSlO, in the 75th year of his ai;'e. 

John (ira\', Jr., \\-hose name lollows, in later }-ears known ;is 
Jud<2^e [ohn (ii-a\-, \\'as a son of John, Sr., and a neplie-w ot Na- 
thanicd; was a soldier of the Ri.\ol u t ion, and married a daug;liter 
of Rev. Hlacldeach Hurrilt; was a Supervisor of the town, and 
Associati.- lusticeol the Counts". Remo\'etl to Chautauqua Co., 
iiSi9, wlu'ix' he died Ai)ril 24, 1X59, in his goth year. 

Elijah Cira_\- was the son of Nathaniel, a soldier of tlie Re\'olution 
and good citizen. Died at Marengo, 111., 1S47. 

Abram, James and Newcomb Raymond were brothers. Abram was 
one of the first deacons of the First Congregational Church, and was 
afterwai'ds for main- years a deacon in the West Hill Church. Was a 
son-in-law of John Gra>-, Sr. Died in Sherburne, May 12, 1830, in 
his 73d \-car; buried on the West 11 ill. 

James Rayinond was a son-in-law of Re\-. Mr. Hurritt. lienioNcd 
to Venango Co., I'a., \\-here he died Nov. 15, 1S52. aged 85 \-ears. 

Newcomb Ra)-niond \\-as a sohlier ot the Rcxolution and a son- 
in-law of John Gra)', Sr. Continued to resi<le here until his tleath, 
January 26, 1852, aged 89 years. 




c^i;^ck ^c^u^ 




^ 



■ya/yfc) (^^^^^f^i^^^^c- c 



// Ki 








^/^<:^-^^^^^^^«^^ 




PRESENTATION OF MONUMENT. I 3 

Josiah Latlirop, kno\\-n as Capt. Lathnip, was a soldier of the 
Revolution, a larsj;c land owner and prominent citizen. Died in 
Sherlnirne, March 7, 1854, in his 97th year. 

Eleazer Lathrop, brother of Josiah, was the largest land owner 
in the new settlement and a good citizen. Died in Brockport, N. 
'S'., 1842, in his 77th \-ear. 

Joel Hatch, Re\-olutionar_\- soldier, Justice of the Peace, Supervisor, 
machinist, was a son-in-law of Nathaniel Gra\-, and an invaluable 
member of the community. Died 1855, in his 91 st \-ear. 

Timothy Hatch, brother of Joel, and brother-in-hn\' of Rev. Mr. 
Burritt, was a soldier of the Re\ ulution and deacon of the Congrega- 
tional Chui-ch. Died in Sherburne, 1847, ^ige^l 90 years. 

Cornelius Clark, the \alued surveyor of the settlement, was also a 
soldier of the Re\-olution. He died in Sherburne, 18 10, in the 65th 
}"ear of his age, and is buried on the West Hill. 

On the opposite or south side of the stone, under the head of "other 
early settlers," are appropriate!}' placed thirteen other names, as 
follows : 

Judge Isaac Foote, pre-eminentl\- one of the first and most promi- 
nent citizens of this town and of this count)-. Was a soUlier of the 
Revolution. Died in Sm}-rna, 1842, in the 97th \-ear of his age. 

Deacon Samuel Foote, earl)- of Sni\-rna and Sherburne, and 
especiall)' jirominent in W'est Hi!) annals. Removed to Jamestown, 
N. Y., died 1848, aged 78. 

John Gra\-, Sr., a soldier of the French ^\■ar and of the Re\'olution. 
An early Supervisor of the town and influential in public aftairs. 
Died in Sherlnirjie, 1822, in his 83d year. 

Elisha Gray, son of Nathaniel and son-in-law of Rev. Mr. Burritt. 
A prominent citizen ; the first school teacher in Sherburne. Died 
in (3hio, 1 823. 

John Hibbard Avas the original ownierof lot No. 14, comprising the 
southern part of this village, and his early residence was not far from 
the present home of Joshua Pratt. Died at this place 1830, aged 70. 

Orsamus Holmes, a Revolutionary soldier from Vermont, ^vas the 
first Town Clerk, an esteemed citizen here and in Chautauqua Coimt)-, 
whither he removed. Died in Ohio, 1835, aged 78 years. 



14 



I'RKSKNTATION OK MONIMKNT. 



John Latlirop, brother of Josiali, was a farmer, resided at tlie Uuartcr, 
where he died in 1825. 

Ezra Latlirop. hrotlier of Jolm, was a sohlier of tlie Re\-olution, 
removed to Ontario Count}-, where he died 1825. 

Major Joseph Dixon, a commissioned officer in the Continental 
arm}-; a hiri^e land owner and influential citizen of Sherburne. Was 
a brother-in-law of the Ra\-niiind brothers. Died at Sni}rna, 1839, in 
his 85th year; buried on Sherburne West Hill. 

Joel Rexford, early of the 8th township; a s^ood citizen, and kin of 
the Sherburne Rexfords. Connected with the West Hill Church and 
biu'icti there. 

Joel Northrop was a soldier of the Revolution from Westchester 
Co., N. Y. Was one of the first trustees of the Con5^re<rational Societ}'of 
Sherburne. Li\ed at the Quarter ; died 1802. 

Capt. Nathaniel Austin was a unitjuc character in the new settle- 
ment. Died 1803. 

Joshua Talcott, Sr., was an earl}- resident of the West liill. Died 
there July 19, 1804. 

Most of these came .is earl}- as 1793, and the others shortl}- .after- 
wards, and all were more or less prominently identified with the new 
settlement. The names of others might j^roperl}- have been placed 
upon the stone hail there been room for them. 

The contributors comprise the followint^ : 

J. D. Rexford of Janesxille, Wis., and other descendants of Corne- 
lius Clark. 

M. D. Ra}-mond of rarr}-town, Geo. N. Ra\-mond of Dubuque. Iowa, 
Mrs. Geo. H. and Chas. \\". Raxmoiid of l-',lL;in. 111.. I'ulton Giffortl of 
Mendot;i. 111.. Mrs. H. A. Kinsley of Angola, and L. G. Ra\niond of 
Angelica, N. Y., of the ilescendants of Newcomb Raymond. 

Mrs. C. B. Raymond and her daui^fhter. Miss Helen S. Ra}-mond. of 
Boston, and Mr. I-'.. V. Ivisign, of Madison, ()., of the descendants of 
James Ra}-mond. 

Mrs. I). 1;. Sackett, and Miss IClizabeth Gray, of Cranford, N. J., 
J. F. Gra}-, and Gen. John B. Gray of New York, of tlie descendants of 
Judge John Gray, Jr. 

P. R. Gra}- of h'lizabeth, N. J., grandson of l-"Iish;i Gr;iy. 



PRESENTATTON OF MONUMENT. I 5 

George W. Lathrop, and Mrs. Rev. Dr. D. K. Bartlett, of the de- 
scendants of Capt. Josiah Lathrop. 

James R. Lathrop of New York, Mrs. Nichols of Washington, and 
tiie Tracy Brothers, of Mansfield, O., of the descendants of Eleazer 
Lathrop. 

Henry Lathrop of Sherburne, and Gardiner Lathrop of Kansas City, 
of the descendants of John Lathrop. 

Wni. W. Lathrop, Esq., of Scranton, Pa., of the descendants of Ezra 
Lathrop. 

The Misses Kenyon of Buffalo, grand children of Bethiah Gray 
Hilibard, the daughter of Nathaniel and Bethiah Newcomb-Raymond- 
Gray. 

Wells B. Hatch, of Syracuse, Mrs. Minnie Carrier of Elmira, Hon. 
H. H. Hatch of Bay City, Mich., Miss Julia Carrier of Elmira, Mrs. 
Dr. Mitchell of Minneapolis, Re\'. Dr. R. L. Bachman, in the name 
of the late Mrs. May Rose Bachman, of L^tica, of the descendants 
of Joel Hatch. 

Yale Hatch of Highniore, .S. U., Farrand Hatch of Sugar Cirove, 
111., sons of Elam, and Dr. Jethro Hatch of Kentland, Indiana, 
son of Jethro, of the descendants of Deacon Timothv Hatch. 

Hon. John J. Foote and John C. Foote, of Belvidere, 111., of the 
descendants of Judge Isaac F"oote. 

Mr. H. A. Foote, of Ne^v York City, son of Judge Elial T. Foote, 
and grandson of Samuel Foote. 

Manville Austin of Washington, D. C, of the descendants of 
Capt. Nathaniel Austin. 

Dr. F. K. Rexford of Ypsihmti, Mich., a grandson of Joc-l Re.xford. 

Joshua Pratt of tlie descendants of Joshua Talcott, Sr. 

Mrs. F. A. H}'att, ot Perr_\-\'ille, Madison Comity, a grand- 
daughter of John Hil)l)ard. 

Alida C. Avery, M. D., of San Jose, Cal., Miss Caroline P. Di.von 
of Westfield, Chautau(|ua County, the Dixon Brothers and Frank 
A\-ery, of Smyrna, of the descendants of Major Joseph Dixon. 

This embraces the list of contributors to the Munument Fiuid. 

And now, Mr. Gladwin, to your care and keeping as the Super- 
visor and representative of this town in your official capacit^•, in 
behalf of the contributors, I commit this Centennial ]Monunient. 



i6 



kKsroxst i!V Ai i;i;kr k. (;i,.\ii\vin. 




Mr. President, and Gentlemen of the 
Centennial Committee : 
In tlic name of the Town of Sher- 
ImriU', .-iml in lu'liall' of its inluibi- 
tants, it becomes my pleasant clui\- 
and privilege, to accept from \dur 
hands this monument. I am \er\- 
glad to express to \()ii, \\liat I k'now 
to In- the unanimous feeling among 
our peo])le, of delight, and satisfac- 
tion, w ith _\'our work". To Mr. Ray- 
mond, who originati'd. and l)\' tireless 
^^ elTort ])erfected, this nKjnument, 
l)elongs the highest i)raise. All who 
have assisted in this nohle enter])rise 
and especially, Messrs. Rexiord, 
Tatlirop, Holden, P'uller, O'Hrian, Whitmore and Dr. Newton, are 
entitled to great credit for what has lieen accomplished. And now, 
gentleman, in heliali of the Town of Slu-rliunu-, I thanh' \'ou. I 
thank \'ou in l)ehalf of the relatives and friends, Ji\'ing, of Nelson 
C. Rexford, who so generously gave to the Town of Sherburne our 
beautiful Rexiord l'"alls. I thank' you in behalf of the relatives and 
friends, living, of Dr. Devillo White, who, in erecting x'onder 
monument to the memor}' of the bra\'e UK'n, whose names are 
inscribed thereon, erected also a monument l<i himself. I thank 
}"ou, in behalf of ail those persons, scattered abroad o\'er our land, 
who claim Sherljurne as their birth])lace and who always show a 
deep and abiiling interest in evervthing that ])ertains to the welfare 
antl ])rosperity of theii' natis'e town. I tlianl^ \<)u, in behalf of ever\' 
residi'Ut of this town, whose ever\- feeling and i.'X])erienee is 
hallowed by the most dear, and tender associations of the ])ast, 
who love to recall and revive the memorv of dear friends, who 
^\■ere born here, li\-ed here, and arc buried here, and who in their 
liv'es did their share in ])romoting tlie pros])erity of dear old 
Sherburne. May the 2 ist day of June, 1S93, ever be a sweet and 
blessed memory to all here present, and to all who shall hereafter 
look- upon this a[)propriate- and suggestive me'mm'ial. 



17 

CENTENNIAL ORATION. 

BY REV. LEWLS RAY FOOTE, D. I). 

Mr. PrL'sidciit, Ladies and Gcntlciucn : 

H(i\v (liftereiit the .scene wliich greets iis to-ilay, in this Vailev 
of tile Clienango, from tliat whieli greeted the noljle men and 
women vvlio settled this town one hundred years ago. Then, an 
almost primeval forest, whose chief occupants were the \volf and 
the bear, and a fe^v rude log huts, met their gaze. To-da\-, a 
smiling landscape, covered with flocks and herds, dotted with com- 
fortable homes, school houses and churches, together ^vith this 
gem of a village, in its bosom, greet us with all their glad signifi- 
cance. The Indian name Chenango, signifying "lieautiful ri\-er," 
gives us the Indian's impression of the original natural beauty of 
this region, which was known from the first to the settlers, as the 
" Chenango Country." 

In selecting" the human instruments, to set the mold and give 
shape to the institutions of this settlement, God gave the best rep- 
resentatives of our most representative Commonwealth, — Connec- 
ticut. Roth in nature and men, good materials were furnished 
for a beautifid town. The manifest divine purpose has been real- 
ized. A beautiful township, emd village, under a beautiful name, 
are before us. Sherburne will take her place amongst the towns 
of the land, as one of the most picturesque, and e.vcellent, amongst 
them all. In xny college days, as I rode on the stage through the 
valley to Clinton, I used to change a word of Goldsmith's line 
and say, 

" Sweet Sherburne ! Icjveliest village of the plain." 

Passing years ha\-e onl\- deepened that impression. I come to 
this valley each summer, from the exacting toils of a great city, 
with ever increasing attachment for the place, and the people. 
My imagination when seeking repose for wearied mind and body, 
finds no more pleasing earthh' spot on which to dwell. How 
many dear friends on earth and in heaven, and ho\v man"\" sacred 
recollections, will ever Ije linked to the name of "Sherburne." 



I 8 rKXTKNXIAI. OKATKIX. 

" Still o'er these scenes my memon' wakes, 

And fondly broods with miser care ; 
Time but th' impression deeper makes, 

As streams their channels deeper wear." 

Tlic first settlers ^\■erc Puritans. Soon utter tlie Rt'volutionary 
War, in uhieh tlie\- bore an honorable part, tiny left tlieir native 
State of Conneetieiit, and sou,o;ht a home in tin.' State of New Voik. 
They made a temporary settlement near vMban}-, bnt came ulti- 
mately to litis town, and became its original proprietors. The 
fact that ihey weri.' Puritans, and the fact that the institutions of 
oiii' towns, and nf our cmnit ry, wdiich distino;uish us before the 
world, are oi Puritan ])lanting and training, have led me to ask 
}-ou to consider with me, for a short time, some of the t'ssential 
features of Puritanism, as necessary to the ""rowth and ])erma- 
nencv of the Re[)ublic. To inan\' the A\'ord Puritan has an 
unjjleasant soitnd. But so far as I am accjitainted with trust- 
worthy history, the world owes its most jjriceless jewels, free- 
dom of thout^ht, and liberty of conscience, to the Puritan. So far 
as civil and religious freedom are enjoyed lo-da_\', thev have been 
won frotn unwillino; hands by Puritans — and thotigli they had their 
imperfections, yet they stand before the \\'orld, to-tla\-, as the 
In-avest and the purest people the world e%'ersaw. If these thitigs 
be so, thi.-n it is most fitting for us to consider on this Memorial 
occasion, what it was in Puritanism that w'as so valuable. I use 
the term "the essential featitres of Puritanism," for there was 
much that went ttnder the name that ^\•as not essetitial to it. The 
name was given as a nickname about the time Queen Elizabeth 
ascended the Itnglish throne, 1558. Society, at that time, was di- 
vided into \\vi> parties knowti as Cavaliers, and Roundheads or 
Puritans. Life and manners geiierall \- were bad and low. Pro- 
tanity was so common that even the Queen embraced it in her 
letters. Untruthfitlness and impttritv \vere rife. The class who 
rose as the reform party were called the Puritans. And it did 
not take nutch to lead one to l)e called a Puritan. If one did not 
get drunk- and went to churi.h he was classed as a Puritan. 

The Papacj- and the Prelac_\- were both taintetl \\-ith tyrann\- and 
vice. Forms and ceretiaonies were of greater \alite e\en in the 



CENTENNTAI. ORATION. I 9 

Episcopal Church than ])urit\' of character. The Puritan resisted 
tlie tyranny and the vice both in the State and in the church. He 
did not \\'isli to leave tlie EiJiscopal Church. Baxter was an Epis- 
coiDalian. He afterwards became a chaplain in Cromwell's army. 
The Puritan took his stand on the \vord of God, and conscience, 
and fought for ci\'il and religious lifiert}'. He ojjposetl any religi- 
ous ceremons- he did not find enjoined in the Scriptures. The 
\\-orld owes it to the Puritan that the English speaking people are 
protestant. The English Puritan was sincerely religious. He 
loved God and was devoted to his service. The degradation of the 
English in the time of Elizabeth was shown in their amusements. 
Bear Ijaiting was one of their fa\-orite pastimes, in which the 
Queen ^vas a common participant. Macaulay ridicules the Puritan 
because he was opposed to bear baiting, and the May pole. Mac- 
aulay says he opposed these sports because he was opposed to the 
pleasure of the people. But Macaulay ought to have known that 
it \vas because of the debaucheries and indecencies of the people, 
in connection with bear baiting and the May pole, that the Puri- 
tan opposed them. When Macaulay says that the Puritan " hated 
bear baiting not because it gave pain to the bear, but because it 
gave pleasure to the spectators, and that he generally contrived to 
enjoy the double pleasure of tormenting both spectators and the 
bear," he allo\\\s his prejudice to guide his pen, instead of the truth 
of the case. For it is well established to-day that the people lost 
all sense of decency and self-respect on those occasions, and that 
it was on these grounds that the Puritan oj)posed them. And this, 
in a word, gives us the reason for, and the character of, the Puri- 
tan's existence. He \vas the Reformer of his dav. You may find 
him in Enghunl, Scotland, Ireland, Holland, Germanv, France, 
Switzerland and America. \Vhere\-er you find him, you ^\-ill hnd 
him resisting t\'ranny and vice in Church and State. 

Such is the essence of Puritanism. But it originated not in Eng- 
land alone. Neither is the Puritanism of America, sim])l\- the 
reproduction of the Puritanism of England. The Puritanism of 
America is superior to that of England. The Puritan of America 
became cosmopolitan and combined ultimately the excellencies 
which belonged to the Puritans of the wt)rld. No, the Puritanism 



20 CKNTKNMAI, (IKAIION. 

of AnuTica is imt llu- I raiisplantini;' simiil\- <>[' English I'uritanisin ; 
neither did the New l-iiii^land Puritans invent all of the good things 
in onr institutions wiiich they did not bring with them from Eng- 
land. It has been largely foi-gotten in studying New England 
Puritanism, that our Pilgrim Fathers had been long resident in 
Holland; oiu- of tlu' finest Ri.-]iublies tlu' world had ever seen. 
Institutions whii,li \\l' prizi.' so highh-, and whieli England does 
not even possess to-dav, eanu' Ironi llollaml, where the\' hail 
nourished for si'ores of vcars. Oui- Irei.' sihools and our endowe-il 
eolleges, eanu- from llollan<l. The first i'wv sehools in America 
opened to all and supported liv the go\L'riHni.'nt, were established 
1)\' the Dutch sett lers of New \'iu-k. lioll.uid was a land of sehools 
supported l)\' tiK- StatL' \s'here e\n'i-\' ehi Id wlmU to school. Popular 
education, as we know it, nc\-er has obtained in Etiglatul to this 
day. She made an approach to it in 1870. 

Then too our to^^■nship with touni government, one of (nir emi- 
nent Amerieati institutions, clid tiot come from Englaml, neither did 
our Ne\v England Puritan in\-ent it, as some ha\'e su]i])osl'<1. 'I 1k' 
township and the town meeting, ^\•ith use of the writteti ballot. 
are Puritan, luit not Etiglish Puritan. TIk' written ballot was not 
used in England until the year 1872. Too nuich has lieen atti-ibu- 
ted to England, and to the brain of the \e%v l-'.ngland Puritan. 
Jefferson sai<l : "These wards called townships, in Xew England, 
are the \-ital prineijjle nf their government ; and have prt)\-ed 
themselves the wisest in\'ention e\'er de\'ised f)y the wit of man for 
the perfect exercise of self go^'el■nment, ami hir its preservation." 
It would appear that Jefferson attributed this blessing to the brain 
of the New i%ngland Puritan, when in tact it was di.'ri\ed from the 
Puritan of Holland. The same thing is true of our system of re- 
cording deeds and mortgages, which does ncit obtain in England to 
this da\-, because it would tai,ilitatt.- the common i.)eo])lc holding- 
land. Our Puritan lorelathers found this idea in Republican I lol- 
land. l-"rom which we see how pr( dilic republ ics are, in beneficent 
institutions lor t he ])copk', w hen controJK'd byunsellish men. I am 
Irving to bring to your mind fjoth the t.'ssence, and the cosmopcili- 
tan origin of .\mei-ican Puritanism. 

1 think- the essence of Puritanism is the ilesire for the best form 



CENTENN1A1, ORATION. 21 

of civil government, and tlie best exjiression of the religions lite. 
I believe these things exist in America ti)-ila\-. And one great rea- 
son is, that the world has been drawn iipim tor the ideas and 
suggestions ^\'hich are here incorjiorated into our institutions. 
Just let me name seven prominent men in theearly histor\- ot New 
York who rejiresent the same number of nationalities, to illus- 
trate. There is Schuyler of Holland, Herkimer of German, Jay of 
French, Livingston of Scotch, Clinton of Irish, Morris of Welsh, 
and Hoffman of Sw'edish descent. I do not think it is too much 
to sa}" that ^ve have the grandest civilization in the \vorld. And 
such men as flerbert Spencer sa}- we are to have the grandest 
ci\'ilization of the future because of our composite i^haracter. I 
agree with Herbert Spencer. l^ut I think we are to ha\'e the 
grandest civilization of the future, Ijccause we are a repuldic, and 
because we are Puritan, and because we draw our Puritanism 
from the "world. Gladstone says we have "the natural Ijase for 
the grandest continuous empire ever established by man." Our 
natural base and our natural character, essentially Puritan, being 
maintained, the gro^vth and the permanencv of the Republic are 
assured. I sa\- ^i:;r(nvtli as \\'ell as permanencx'. For all good 
things possible to our Republic are neither yet secured nor perfected 
The Puritan kindled the spark of libert\' anil he alone has pre- 
served it. He is the natural op])onent of despotism, \'ice, and 
corruption. He always has a high standard of puldic dut}' and 
private honor. He always feels bound to appl\- the ma.x'ims of 
religion to the ordinary conduct of life. Some have complained 
of his intolerancy, and liaN'c charged his intoleranc\- to his being 
Calvinistic and a Rei^ublican. To that it <.)nly needs to be said 
that Holland was both Calvinistii.- and a Republic, and she was 
not charged with being intolerant. The intolerance of the Nc^v 
England Puritan was not an essential feature. He was intolerant, 
but <.)nly in self defense. He was patriotic. He was law abiding. 
He may ha\-e erred in the rigor with which he observed the 
Sabbath, Init he asjiircd to an ideal ofiservance of the divine 
command. To him l)iety and patriotism fiecame a seamless 
garment. Christ and Coiuitry to him ^^•ere insei)aral)Ie. 

There would seem to have been something incongruous in this 



22 CENTENNIAL ORATION. 

occasidii il'tlu' t'inin(lcrs ol' this town had nm \tcv\] Rcvt il utinnary 
sohlicrs. For a true I'urilan was sure tn In.- idem itieil with cx'crv 
cause tliat represented righti-'ousness and lil>ert\-. A I'uritaii 
soldier lias always been a diilicult one to eneoiuUer. Maeavday 
slurred the Puritan, Init he ])ays the hijj^hest coni])linient to the 
Puritan soldier tor Ijravery, tor ])urity, and ]>ersonal upriL^litness, 
that any soldier ever received. But as soldier, as ciiizi.-]i, and as 
Christian, the Puritan Avas always pre-eminent. \'(ui could not 
iiave a Puritan without a belief in Cjod, an<l ])ersonal righteous- 
ness. He was a serious man. The Cavalier might be a man of 
fun and frolic, but the Puritan's sensi.' of obligation to God and 
his fello\vs made him serious. To him life ^vas both real and 
earnest. He believi'd in ri.!L;-lit and wroui:;. He ma<le distinctions. 
To him right was always right, and wrong ^^'as ahvays ^vrong. 
He felt that right should be rewarded and that wrong should Ije 
punished. He ^v'as a man ol thought and a man of affairs. He 
judged f(_>r himself whetlu'r ihini^s were right or wrong. He had 
a l)iblical standard of excellence for life, nnunu'rs, and go\-ern- 
ment. 

And while I am delineating the character of the Puritan in 
America, I am at the same time portraying tiie character of the 
founders of this town as I liave learned it from pvn and lip. 
These men whose names are cut in that granite block', beautiful- 
1\' il lustratc-d in tlu'ir lite heri.', the essential features of the best 
Puritanism the world ever sa\\'. Nathaniel Gray ^\•as the hrst 
Justice of the Peace appointed in the town. He was tin- patriarch 
of the settlers, — a man without an enemy — a burning and shining 
light in the church. He and Abraham Ra\-mond were chosen 
deacons of the First Congregational Church of Sherliurne, at the 
time of its organization in 1794. They ^vere like David and Jona- 
than to each otlur. To the other settlers they \\-ere like Moses 
and Joshua, both as leaders, and in their ])erson,al inlluence ox'er 
them. Whoever read of an\- community of men who bore more 
honorable relations to one another.' They wen.' ni.'\'er l^nown lo 
dispute a Ixumdarv lini', whi'n it was once fi.xed, nor did any ot 
them ever \\:\Vi.- a legal dispvite with one another. Tlu'v liouglu 
of and sold to each otlier, allowing the buyer to measure anil 



CENTENNIAL ORATION. 23 

■weigli The i;-i>ods tor hiniselt'. It was siicli men who laid the 
i'l mnihitiiins of this ti)\\'n. 

The American Puritan had no respect for persons. He knew 
no privileged classes. Therefore it is not Puritanism to regard a 
great thief as a great financier, and to give him ct)urt favors on 
that account. The Puritan believed something, and had the cour- 
age of liis convictions. He formed his convictions on the Word 
of God. The first English martyrs were Puritans, and thev never 
flinched one hair's breadth from their apprehension of the truth, 
nor made the first overture for release. Phe Puritan feai'ed God. 
He feared no one else. Puritanism often meant individualism, 
l.iecausc it was often needful for the Puritan to stand alone. Like 
trees, it makes men strong to stand alone. The Puritan had to 
think for himself. The king and the priest might think, and act 
too, for the Cavalier. But the Puritan was trained to think and 
act for himself. Such training would naturalh- lead to constitu- 
tional government. Such training prepares for Democratic insti- 
tutions, tor Republics and a representative form of church gov- 
ernment. It is not at all strange that Bryce, member of Parliament 
though he is, should intimate in his American Commonwealth, 
that Great Britain has much to learn in the matter of government 
from America. As constitutional monarchies see the good things 
of our Republic they will ultimately appro])riate them. As the 
nations of the earth are prepared for the change they will become 
Republican. 

The Puritan •was a public spirited man. As Jefferson has said, 
the core of our system of government is the town and the to^vn 
government, and that means thought and more or less pulilic 
spirit. A man in this land is educated to look about him and 
consider the ]3ublic good. As a matter of fact the Puritan has 
always extended his sympathies to that \\iiich lay beyond him. 
Whatever will uplift his own commiuiity, his own country, or 
the world, is germane to his thought. The Germans in their thirty 
years' war had no warmer symisathizers than the Puritans of 
New England, who ever remembered them in prayer. Benevolent 
institutions like schools and colleges, libraries, hospitals, asvlums, 
Avhatever may uplift a self respecting communit\', sjjring from 



24 Cl'.N'lENMAI. OKAIIOX. 

Puritanism as naturally as li<;;ht ilows from the sun. Such thint^s 
arc thC' nat^iral I'ruit of Rc]nil)li(.-s fosti.'rcMl by tin- i-sscntial features 
III Puritanism. .\ Puritan Ke|iul)lie means a t^i'neral uplilt into 
])ui-(.'r I i\'in,i.;' ami liiL;'Iu-r ill ink inj.;'. The ])i-iuei])les ol inwn life 
anil thai ot a niuniei| )al ily are iIk- same. What NeA\- N'ork ami 
PriMiklyn, ami all our lai'i^'e i.'ilies iK-eil ami must lia\'e, is ihal iheir 
business shall be transai'ted as X'our town bu>iness is transatted, 
itemized and audited, and ihee ihemseUxs g(.)Verm.-d in broad 
<la\dis^ht. and not un<ler a blanket. It is not Purilaniial to be 
ruK'il by mono])!!! ies or by eoi-ru]it eor])orations, or eorru|)t |)oli- 
ticians. Ihe Puritan is ne\er too indilfi.rL-nl or too indolent to 
oppose such l(.)es of i1k' j)ublie L;-ood. ( )ne Puritan will ehase a 
thousand C'avaliers. and two ^\■\\] put ten thousand lo iL:;nom- 
inious llit;'hl. The Puritan was a |:)raetieal man. He kne^\■ 
what he wanted, and he t^'ot what he went alter. That there %\'ei-e 
faults in the Puritan system is only to say that it ^\■as human. 
Hut it lias j;'i\-L'n us the Ik'sI L:;o\'ernnient, and the most noble and 
unselfish men the sun shines upon. Alter a hundred x'l'ars of 
experiiiK'Ut \\e aix- preparetl to say that the places \\-heri.' lile is 
safest, and riclu'st in all good thin.gs, where ci\'il izat ion is highest, 
where libertN- is most ]irized and most tenderly cherished, ^^dlere 
woman is most honored ; — ihcse ])laces are IIk' places wdiL-re the 
essential features ol Puritanism lui\"e been most dis])layed. The 
logical connection of these facts with tlie growth and i)ermanency 
of the l\e]>ublii.- ought to bi.' a]ipai-ent to the most casual obser\'er. 
A king \s'ho is a bad man makes a bad ruler. The peo])le in a 
Ri.' pub lie a IX' the king. lithe ])eople are bad iIk' go\-ernment must 
b>.' bad. The belK'i- tin- peopk' the better the government. The 
^vorse the pi.'opb' the worse the go\-i.'rnment. (iood go\-ernnient 
must mean inpialitx' in tr^'almenl, anil no fa\"oritism to anyboily. 
Every cit\' and to\\-n in our land, (.ursed l)y misrule, dishonest}", 
degradalion and ignorance, needs nothing so miuh as these es- 
sential lealures of Puritanism. Sla\-ery went down before this 
Puritan idi'a, and e\'er\' i,'\il ihing our smial fabric contains ini- 
mical to its welfare, wliellu-r it lii'S in tlu- ^\•rong use of inili\idual 
or (.■orporale wealth, in ikprax'ed ap|)elil(.', or inordinate lust, or 
in the wickt'd use of ])o\ser, tlu'se must all go iIoanui belore the 



ckntp:xnial oration. 25 

essential features of Puritanism. Good laws and good government 
to-day wherever found, are the outeome of these prineij)les 
Brave, pure, unselfish men the \\-orld over are seeking the good 
of mankind hv these well tried jjrineiples. 

The Puritans \vere nut ])iipiilar in their day. The Puritans of 
Fi'anee were the Huguenots, and I'" ranee murdered them In' the 
tens of tlnuisands, and exiled tlK'Ui b\' the hundreds of thousands. 
The statue of Coligny recently inn'eiled in her splendid capital is 
but a tardy apolog}- for her crime. At least 50,000 of the Puritans 
iif Holland, including William df (Grange, whoso much resembled 
(uir Lincoln, both in character and in the manner of his death, 
were slaughtered by the Spanish Incjuisition. The bhicid of the 
martyrs is the seed of the churi.'h. The blooil of such Puritans 
was the seed of a more perfect expression of the institutions for 
\vhich they died. America is the fiest rejiresentation in the ^vorld, 
tc)-da\-, of these institutions, because she has received into her 
b(id\- politic the best Puritan blood of the ^\-()rld. The highest 
ha])piness of man, as well as the gro^vth and elevation of man, 
will lie in the future as in the past, along the lines of these es- 
sential features of Puritanism, and if the institutions of America 
are to expand and lie permanent, they must be essentiallv 
Puritan. 

Two ])iles of granite to-day grace this beautiful green. The 
one, l)ears the names of the fathers; the other, bears the names 
of the sons; the one, fiears the names of the foun<lers; the other, 
bears the names of the defenders of our countrx'. Placed a<lja- 
cent to each <.itln'r, so fittinglv, upon \'our beautiful commons, both 
alike witness to the same Puritan featin-e, and declan.' that the 
names they bear are both alike, safe 

" On Fame's eternal camping ground." 



jftl^jS^^^KWWo 



26 




CENTENNIAL POEM. 



I!V I'HII.O 1,. HATCH, M. I). 

O'er this broiid L'ontini.'nt there broods on waitinj? wings, 
This hour the angel of the centuries, who sings 
In numbers high as heaven, of by-gone years — 
Aflame with minstrelsy the listening world now hears. 

In liarmony coincident, we celebrate the birth 

Of .Sherburne. For i/s no other spot on earth 

Can such rich treasures of the past ])()S.sess, 

Of what is found in man, earth-bora, true nobleness. 

Offspring of the century, born 'mid these hills and vales. 
From homes remote in this wide land, to-day we meet to raise 
A monument to kindred sires, for whom there e'er prevails 

A hallow'd wealth of sentiment that coins our words of jjraise. 

From this grand line of ancestors in Sherburne's envied past. 

An heritage of .glorj' comes, we hold with natal pride I 

All hail ! to those exalted ones, from first imto the last ! 

All hail I to each, we proudly say I Of heaven we're justified. 



But what are these surroundings here, which meet our wondering eyes, 

Wherever we may turn to look, if north, or south, or west? 

Or to the cloudless orient, they fill us with surprise 

To see w-hat is, — recall what was, — the archives tell the rest. 



CENTENNIAL TOEM. 2 

Bring out the records, — call the roll, for list'ning far and near, 
The fields and groves, and every knoll, are waiting now to hear 
Familiar names read o'er again, from out the buried past. 
Which thrill the hearts of living men who here their homage cast. 

Lathrop, Raymond, Hatch and Gray, 

Gifford, Newton, Hubbard, Green, 

Avery, Northrop, Farrell, Day, 

Ben-e-dict, and Valentine ; 

Elmore, Austin, Gardiner, Lee, 

Foote, Clark, Pratt, Purdy, Reese ; 

Whitney, Hibbard, and we see 

The names here listed still increase. 

Lyon, Ryne.x, Ladd, and Mead, 

Dixon, Thompson, Talcott, Dwight, 

Rexford, Sanford, Lynde, — indeed, 

The roll must close with Holmes and White, 

Although the record still goes on 

With names as worthy of recall: 

For time forbids us to prolong 

The list — to(.> gi'eat to mention all. 

These names are not for measure formed but synonyms of worth. 
And each a sterling man adorned, who lived to bless the earth. 
Among them, not a man wiis found but formed of " Just the stuff " 
That helped to make the country free, and Britain cry " Enough !" 

One of the stalwart list 'tis said, a boy when he began. 

The British fought for seven years, while growing up to man ; 

And when at last in Yorktown siege, the redoubt works were scaled. 

The first were he to enter in ! His name shall now be hailed. 

'Twas Newcomb Raymond, full well known to be both good and true. 

And wise as most men often are, yet one thing never knew ; 

And that was when the orders came for his retreat. 

He faced about, and forward marched, and never knew defeat. 

He heard no voice but duty's, and however by it tasked, 
'Twas done at once, and squarely, without a question asked. 
And such was every man of those who broke old Sherburne's sod. 
The glory of his countrj-, an honor to his God. 

This world was made for just such men to have and enter in, 
\\'here briars and thorns, fierce winds and storms, had come from mortal sin, 
The seeds of which the fall had sown, and rode the blasts that hurled 
Them right, and left, and up, and down, from Eden'round the world. 



28 CENTENNIAL POEM. 

But whore's the forest once so dark, 
Through which yon river flowed ? 
The echoes of the woodman's axe ? 
The fires that once there glowed? 
The shadowed, fern-hedged silent path, 
Th;it wound o'er hill and dale, 
Along which once the red-men strode, 
They called "the liuntcr's trail?" 
Of which we've heard in prose and verse. 
Strange tales of wolves, and bears; 
Wildcats, panthers, lynx, yes worse, 
Their screams from night-hid lairs. 

The mountain heights, the ocean depths, the track of stars and sun ; 

The cour.se of all things here below, like the river to the sea, 
Dee])-carved doth leave the truth engraved, till time's long race is inin. 

That change is moulding all that is, and all that yet shall be. 

O, change ! Eternal change, persistent e'er since time began ; 

In mystery, in silence, by infinite endeavor. 
Thou hiust bordered, canopied, and hedged the jiath of man. 

And on through all the ages wilt shajie it still forever. 

Our ancestors were factors by which these changes came, 
And left to us examples high, of what may still be done 

In other s])heres of enterprise, with sacrifice the same. 
And triumphs just ;ls laudable, when victory is won. 

Thus laid they here foundations good and broad, and strong and dce]> 
As those beneath the buttressed hills, in which their ashes sleep. 
And everything they luiilded, stood, a fortress on a rock. 
And time has proved it "very good," a.s we will by this block 
With which our homage now is paid, — the most that we can do. 
And with it here to-day is laid a tribute long their due. 

Sherburne, the ri]3cned fruitage 

Of a severed, drifting spray. 

Of that exotic flower 

That took its name from May ; 

At length through ixitient toilings 

Of those who wrought alone, 

To-day becomes immortal. 

By the planting of this stone. 

Which hence sliall be a record 

Of each justly honored name 

Retained within the archives 

Or on the faded listings 

Of poll-tax, church or school. 

The last of which no instance gives 

Of one from dimce's stool. 



CENTKXXIAL rOP:M. 

Hurrah ! we shout together, for the bravest and the good ! 

The mothers and the daughters, with the fathers and the sons. 
Who cut their way from Litchfield straight through the brush and wood, 

While the former as brave-hearted, kept ready charged the guns ; 

For savage beasts around them, and foes on every side. 
Alert OTth hate and hunger, and treacherous as sin,— 

Who mutely dogged their progress as Indians do, and hide. 
To wait for midnight darkness, their scalpings to begin ! 

They left their way behind them across the the bridgeless streams. 
Illumined by their courage, as now by arc-light gleams. 
And early felled the forests, built houses, barns, and field. 
And soon the upturned acres their garnered fruits did yield. 

Their homeful, rugged dwellings, like Jonah's wondrous gourd. 
At once to full proportions grew, without sawn joice, or bo;u-d : 
The walls of logs and chinkings, by native clay made tight ; 
The roof of "shakes" log holden, oiled paper for their light ; 
Mud-plastered sticks for chimneys, a fireplace built of stone ;— 
The rest hewn out of puncheons,— a crane, and all was done. 

Each dwelling represented, a school, a church, a court, 
Where ignorance a sin was judged, and sentenced, a-la-forte ; 
And soon a fact the natives learned ;— they saw their coming fate: 
If whitemen's honor failed to bring their trust, it scorned their hate. 

No time was lost to learning. The best of common schools. 

At once were set in order, under well appointed rules. 

From Litchfield fresh imported, the germs of tliose which now 

Still guide our latest teachers, who to them wisely bow. 

Since then, what strides <if learning ! Before the fact we pause 

In the silence of astonishment, yet not of doubt, —because 

In every section of the land, wherever we may turn. 

Scarce second to the spires we love, that make our hearts to burn. 

Behold the stately structures rise, for education given, 

That onward, upward, miiltiply,— thank God. by Rome unriven. 

Away the cunning craft of Popes, in tactics dark and dire. 

That stealthily, is striving hard, to kindle smokeless fire 

Beneath our noblest free school cause, built wisely, justly, well ; 

On broadest stones of righteous laws. Why bum it ? Who will tell ? 

Except that knowledge freely had, Rome's blinded slaves set free, 
And spurns her power, however mad, both here, and o'er the sea. 
America, so prosperous grown, an evil eye ne'er spares 
This foe, her fields at night has sown with seeds of deadly tares. 

Eternal watching, hour by hour, alone our country saves 
From ruin, bv this sleepless power, that would of us make slaves ; 
Yet better things we fondly hope, because we know our foe. 
In time with it to grimly cope, before its final blow. 



30 CENTENNIAL I'OEM. 

Our shi]) of state, each angry storm, across her steady way. 

Has staiichly rode untouched by harm, without an hour's delay 

To her grand purpos'^, s-xiled for man, o'er waves of pregnant time ; — 

A voyage, we trust of Heaven's own plan, — a mission vast. — sublime. 

No nation hence have we to fear, with all its ])owers of death ; 
But, mutters from the poor we hear, yet breathed in lowest breath. 
Against a king, who lifts his head, the foe of labor old ; 
Who dares with insolence to tread this land ! His name is Gold. 

Awake ! O countrymen, awake, before his fatal chains 

Have boun 1 you fast, when he will take yovir all till naught remains 

But servitude to lordly greed, like that of older lands. 

Which gives no ear to human need, while binding feet and hands. 

'Tis yoiu- last hour to use the power of freemen to be free ! 

Your fathers fought to leave their dower of equal rights to liberty. 

Not yet the battle quite with swords, for bidlots still are yours. 
And bullets they, your powder words, while coole.5t aim assures 
The victory, because your guns are ten to one of theirs, 
And right with numbers, never runs, when men are born her heirs. 

Right sure 1 am no Sherburne son. will ;isk for this digression 
Apologies; nor mutely hold the thought that some concession. 
Should, hat in hand, creep through tliese lines, for speaking of the dangers 
Which rim the sky for by and b\'. with clouds to us yet strangers. 

The darkest one that ever rose. 

Concealed behind, a light 
For those whose faith rests in repose. 

Whose hope is anchored right. 
And firmly planted on the rock, 

Our fathers laid before : 
It, greed nor Gold, nor any power. 

Shall crush forevermore I 
Platooned amid Columbia's hosts. 

We, Sherburne sons will stand, 
A cordon firm as granite posts. 

Around our father-land : 
Till enemies, to friends have turned. 

And all the world confessed 
That since our fathers freedom earned. 

None other is so blessed. 

This province where our friends are laid, is halo'd by the fact 
At every line of progress reached, by thought as well as act, 
It represented well has been, by women, and by men 
Who took the front by right within each honored place : Amen ! 



CEXTEXXIAL POEM. 

Surprised, — aghast with wonder, at the change which has been wrotight, 

By one completed century, and by the cycle brought, — 

We are reverently asking what another such shall bring. 

From the noontide, and the gloaming, of Time's extended wing. 

Events are swiftlj' coming, casting shadows on the sky. 

That fix the gaze of millions who cannot answer why 

The mystic light is holding them, half paralyzed with awe, 

While persistently affirming, " All comes by changeless law." 

The Mighty God no statue is ! He is the law itself ! 

Himself revealed in changes, as he declares Himself ! 

He bids us finite mortals, to unquestioning believe 

Whatever He declareth, and thus His truth receive. 

His infinitudes mysterious, we cannot understand : 

But if sincerely willing, we may his plain command ; 

As did those Christian ancestors, good Sherburne's righteous dead, 

Who lived by faith unswerving, in all that God has said ; 

And left a hallowed atmosphere, still resting on this place. 

Like incense of the Holiest, in the Temple of His Grace. 

In the days of small beginnings, when America was young, 

And potent possibilities were yet undreamed, — unsung. 

The lines of full possession had scarce the mountains crossed. 

But, in their rocky fastnesses indefinite were lost. 

Till the coming generation was born, and grown, — inspired 

For the conflict of subjection of further lands acquired. 

Whose conquests need no telling ; — the world has known them long: — 

Too great in moral fruitfulness, for minstrelsy, or song. 

Suffice to say that Sherburne, in America's expanse 

Has never been recalcitrant, but always in advance, 

Be the conflict with the forests, the mountains, or the plains. 

The natives, or rebellion ; her victories remain. 

All hail once more our noble sires ! All hail cries every son ! 
We glory in our heritage by you so grandly won ! 
In this memorial shaft here placed, we pledge with joyous tears. 
To follow you, while still we live, in the coming Hundred Years ! 



In tlie absence of the Poet, Dr. Pliilo L. Hatch, who was unal)le 
to be present, Miss Elizabeth Latlirop, a ihuij;-hter of Mr. Henr\' 
Lathrop of Sherburne, and great-grand-daughter of John and 
Prudence Hatch Lathrop, who were of tlie earliest settlers, and 
kindred of the writer of the poem, was invited to read it. It 
proved to be an admirable selection, that gifted \-oung lad\- being 
fully equal to the occasion. 



HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 

H^■ \IAKiirS I). K.V\Mi i\Ii. 

History \v\\\ always PL-inain a tlu'ini.' of fascinatin,u; inte-rest — 
till' romance of a realism stranger tlian fiction, \siili a l^Iow of 
feeling and sentiment running along its lines of tliought and action. 
Even wlien tlie \\"liite heat of life has horned tn the ashes of 
forgelfulness, we walls' wilh uncoN'ered heads amid llie cniml)ling 
ruins of tlie p:ist, its very myster}- moving to awe and reverence. 
Histor\' is recorded fact in tlie jirogress of a race, the ff)i.uiding of 
a nation or the building of a \\-orld. It may be engraven with a 
sword, a pen of iron, or a glacier, but the thought and ])urpose 
back of it all, and inciting it all, is what gives character to the 
event. The heroes of Thermopx-la- and Bunlcer Hill and Balaklava 
were made incarnate hy the s]iirit that inspired them, while 
gladiators who contended with l>rute courage for the Avorld's 
a]jplaud ha\'e ])erished in oblivion. The world takes account of 
noble deeds, but demands a reason belore a nanu- is writti-n on 
the scroll of fame. H\' mianimous consent the patriot bra\-e are 
placed upon the list, — those who have done st)met]iing for the 
Ijcncfit of the race ; who have stood for the good and the- true ; 
who ha\-e marched i'.i the advance of progress and liberty ; who 
in all the ages have set over against the rights of kings the kingly 
rights of men, and have at last emerged from the contest bearing 
aloft tlie banner of the free. 

This the sufficient justitication of this Centennial celebration : 
The e\'ent so commemorated, uniipie in itsi^ll' and \\-orth)' of 
commemoration, — the setting u]) of the stand;iril of Christian 
civilizatio;, in the w ilderness, was dignified b\- the actors in it, and 
the halo of their heroic, patriotic li\'i.\s. Ii was the culmination of 
hopes long cherished, the coming to a promised land they had long 
desired to enter. The hopes and asjiirations of other generations 
that had preceded them fovuid an answer in the da^vn of those 
better days after the long waiting. Dissenter, and Covenanter, 
and Huguenot, fleeing from persecution and op])ression, had 
found a temporary lionu' on New Englaml's rock-ribbed coast. 



HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 33 

Now, at last, tlioy had come to tlicir own. And tlu-ir loyal sons 
and daughters do well to hail this da}- with jubilant acclaim ; to 
fling out their banners ; to let music swell the breeze and the glad 
summer air be resonant with the sounds of rejoicing — the \"ery hills 
to clap their hands, the fields to smile in beavity, and the forests 
to wave their bannerets. For Sherl)urne, dear old Sherburne, was 
born a hundred years ago — well born, and all the prophesy of its 
bright promise fulfilled in this \-alley of our dreams, and \-our 
own beautiful town. 

There can be but one primeval period of life to any place or 
people, and that must ever h.ave about it an increasingly fascinat- 
ing interest as the years go \iv. While virtue endures and 
patriotism remains an inspiration we mtiy well recall with filial 
pride and affection the memory of those who have gone on before 
us — '\\'ho wrought and toiled and suffered and endured, and who 
laid the foiutdations of our goodly heritage. The lirave deeds of 
the days of old will indeed live in song and story so long as our 
countrv shall endure. Standing here this Centennial of Sherburne, 
it is fitting to recall something of its early history -while loved 
voices from out of the pe\st, which have long been hushed in the 
eternal silence, still find an echt) in our hearts. The son may well 
turn back and crown his honored sire -with laurels, and so we 
bring our voti\'e ofterings to-day. 

But to begin at the beginning: That is the difticulty. The first 
})ages of history are necessarily pre-historic. Darkening shado\vs 
cover it : A dense and mightN' forest, the outgro^^■th of other 
primeval forests long since decayed, in \vhich the ^vild lieast roams 
at ^vill and the ^vigwam of the stealth}- savage here and there 
ajipears. At the earliest record it \vas a hunting grmmd of th*^ 
Oneidas, scattered bands of whom had their homes here. 
Occasionally they returned to their favorite camping grcjunds in this 
vicinit}' long after their pale-face successors had taken possession, 
the\' having reserved the rights of hiuiting and fishing as an article 
in the conveyance of their \'ast domain. Evidences of its earl}' 
occupation by the aborigines still exist in this tou'nship. "About 
four miles north of this village," as stated by Mr. Hatch in his 
historx", "and one mile ^vest of the Handsome Brook, are the 



34 IlISrOKUAI. ADDRESS. 

remains ufa striuiiirc woriliy nt ilu- i.-.\aiiiinatiiin <it' ami(|uarians 
— an cnil)anl<nu-nt of coarst.' i:;ra\-i.-l, huih in ihu t'nrm i>\ a liorse 
shoo, the open ends towards the north ; evidently an old Indian 
fortification. I'"lint arroAv ])oints are fre(|uently found in tlie 
vicinil)-." On the Tiniothx' ihiuh farm ox'er the ri\'er and on the 
fh'st u])land not far from its banks are evidences of Indian burial 
or eat'lu's fcircorn in nmunds still to be seen. On the farm of 
Newcoinl) l\a\niond, lU'ar the so-eallctl "cove" at the l)end ol the 
ri\-cr, ari.' ihc uninislak'able e\-idences of an old cam])in<^ >.(roinid 
in the blackened earth and stones, covering a considerable area, 
aiul in the adjoining fields hundreds of flint arrow heads have 
been fomid, some of them rare specimens of their kind, and near 
bv a ])erfect stone tomahawk was turiu-d u]> with a plo\v not many 
years since. The remnant of the Indians who remained ajjpeared 
to be not unfriendlv to the early settlers, indeed, it «-oiild not have 
been safe hir them to ha\'e bei.'n otherwise, and the chief among 
tlu-m all — the notorious Abram Antone — who paid the jjenalty of 
his crimes, which l)y his tribal standard were but a just retribution 
exercised ni)on liis eiu'inies, by execution at Morrisville, September 
12, 1X33, set up the plea that he liad been a friend to the struggling- 
colonies and had been employed as a trusted scout by Washington 
himself. The storv of his sudden appearance in this neighborhood 
to the late Alfred Ra\-mond, anneil to the teeth with deadly knives 
and rille, while a large n.'\\ard was offered for his capture and 
olticers of the law were in pursuit, remains a vivid impression. 
His daughter Peggy, with her painted basket-ware, and her vagrant 
hiisb.ind. '■ .\be," her brothers Moses and Cornele, and others of 
the lamilv, were a familiar ])icture \\-ithin the memory of many. 
But their footfall is no more hearil, tlu'ir shado^vs are no more 
seen, and they ha\c gone, all gone, let us hope, to the happy 
hunting grounds of that mysterious race. 

Tlu'se lands were purchased from the Oneida Iitdians at a treaty 
held at h'ort Schuyler, October 22, 1788, Gov. George Clinton and 
others acting as Commissioners for the State, and Avere a part of 
the Twentx' Townships so called. By an act j)assed on the 25th 
of February, 1 7S9, these towns were surve}-etl and di\-ided ittto 
lots numbering from l to 100. At this period the whole of tlie 



HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 35 

northern ])art nt" this cduntv as at present constituted, was 
incliiileJ in the town of Whitestown, present Oneida County. 
It wiis at this treaty that the significant incident occurred between 
Gov. Clinton and a sachem of the Oneidas, in Avhich the governor 
was made to appear at a disadvantage when asked by the sagacious 
savage to keep moving along upon the log where he was sitting until 
there "was no further room to move, as indicative of the purpose of 
the ^\•hite man to keep the poi ir Indian moving on until there was no 
further place for him. It was the end of Indian domination in Central 
New York. 

Pursuant to an act passed March 22, 1791, these lands were sold 
l)y the State, Col. Wm. S. Smith being the ])urchaser, for himself 
and others whom he represented, of the 8th and 9th townships, 
present Sherburne and Smyrna, as well as of several other towns, 
embracing altogether 150,000 acres, at 3 shillings and 3 pence ]jer 
acre, the Land Commissioners of this State having ciccepted his 
offer at a meeting held by them in the city of New York, July 
13th, I 791. 

The sturdy l.iand of pioneers who were destined to locate here, 
and who had lieen tarrying for awhile tentatively at Duanesburgh, 
started on a tour of observation in this direction soon after these 
lands were ad\'crtised for sale by the State wiseh' jjiloted bv Josiah 
Throo].), chief of the engineering corps who had sur\-e}-ed the twcnt\' 
townships the year previous. The party consisted of Nathaniel 
Gra\' and the Surveyor, Avho, it is stated, came on horseback', ami 
ElishaGray, Joel Hatch, Newcomb Raymond and James Ra^•mond, 
who came on foot, with their packs on their backs. It is said they 
reached the valley just east of Norwich, having crossed theUnadilla 
on their way Ixdow the present site of New Berlin. They then 
followed the river up its course as far as this jjlace, reaching here, 
according to Mr. Hatch, after five days of hard tra^■elling, in June, 
1791. The}- do not ai)i)ear to ha\-e i)roceeded farther, and finall}' 
decided upon tlie southwest ipiarter of township No. 9 as tlteir 
choice of site, preferring that to the northwest cpiarter, as stated 
b}' Sciuire Hatch, from the fact that while there was about the 
same amount of flat lands in each, in the former (southwest) it 
was not di\-ided by any hill, and consequently the families could 



36 



IIISTORK Al. adukkss. 



]\vc iikitl' toi^i-'tlicr as one ccmimunitv. Tin- ri-svilt proves the wis- 
dom of tlieir ilioiec. Tllov evi.k-nt 1 \' l\'iu-w "wIutl' they were al I" 
An inciileiit of theif loiir of oUservation l)ere at tliat time as 
shfnvinsj; sometliing- of the i)erils that ^v(nll<l confront tiieir families 
in the frontier life wliieli awaited tliem, is woinh n^datint;. One 
iiiti^ht (lurint;- tlieir sojovirn liere tliey ha<l stopped al llie eamp of 
some friendl\' Indians near the swam]) on the wesl side of the 
river, afterwards owned hv Mr. Joshua I'ratt. in iIk- earl}- morn- 
ini;' an Indian t;-irl was missed from tlie eamp and then it was 
remembered that slu' had not relurni.-d from a \'isit made the 
evening before to some neis^diboring loilges on the oilier side. I he 
ominous l)arl<inL;" of doL:;s \\as heard midway between, and the 
Indians and their exjjloring j^uests, following;- uj) the trail, soon 
found the frightened girl crouehing under the body of a protecting 
tree, tlelended b\- her faithful dogs from a luige jjanther that A\-as 
glaring upon them as if ready to sjiring. A nniskxl ball soon laid 
it low. and the treml)lini4- girl A\-as iX'seued from the deadly ])eril 
to wdiieh she had been L'Xjxised all the night long by the ferocious 
beast. 

The e.\])lorers returned by iIk' northern routi.', through the 
present town of Paris, and brought a good rejjort of the land to 
their families attd associates. Nathaniel (iray was then dispatched 
to New \'ork eit\- to negotiate for iIil- lands. He there found to 
his disappoint iulmiI that the\' h;id al rt-ady been sold by the State 
to Col. Smith. He returned to Duanesburgh, but on consultation 
made a second trii.) to New \'ork-, on which occasion he succeeded 
in making a contract with the owner of the desired lands. This 
was dated Decemf)er 9, 1791. the jiuixhase inchnling 6,222 1-2 
acres at $1.25 i)er aci-e. The deed was not taken utitil later, Col. ' 
Smith hitnsidf having only bought by contract, and did not receive 
his patent mitil April 16, 1794. lit the meantime other settlers 
had made contracts for other tracts of land in this atid the eighth 
townshij), J. \. Race, date of July 25, 1792 : Chas. Hush, July i, 
1792; John (jilmore, August 6, 1792, and T'rince I'"reeman, same 
date, all in the present town of Sht-rburne, wdiile Jose])li I'orter 
settled in Smyrna as early as 1792, and the following year his 
brother-in-law Josejdi Tobev, came on from Con\s'ay, Mass., and 



HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 37 

settled adjoining him. The title to the 8th to\vnship was conveyed 
to John Lawrence, Esq., of New York, date of April 17, 1794, and 
Col. Smith's remaining interest in Sherburne ■was conveyed in 
'795 ^^y '^'^'^'o separate deeds to Judge J<_)iin Watts of New York, 
by whom it was sold in lots and parcels tf) settlers. In this con- 
nection it is interesting to note that in all these sales of land by 
the State this important stipulation was made, that one family at 
least be settled upon each tract of 640 acres within seven years 
from the date of deed. The result was strenuous effort on the 
part of purchasers of these townships to effect settlement. What 
a saving clause that would have been had the general government 
adopted it, and how it would have prevented those large holdings 
of land in the hands of speculators, a source of disquietude and 
a menace to the state. 

The storA' of the settlement of the southw'est cpiarter of this 
township is told in particular here because it was the only 
organized New England colony in all of this region, and it 
iinparted a like character to the settlement of both these town- 
ships, the 8th and 9th, Avhich in this Centennial Celebration are 
rightfully considered as having a common interest, having been 
originally one in name and civic organization. The Proprietors, 
so called, eleven in number, -whose names appear upon the front 
of this monument, \vere, \vith a single exception, of kindred blood, 
and New England origin. In the earlier days they had been 
neighbors in Kent and Sharon, Conn. During the Revolution the 
families had become somewhat separated, but afterwards they 
sought a common home together, and so planned this settlement. 
Having made the purchase as stated in 1791, in the spring of 1792 
they came on for a further survey of the land and to make 
preparation for bringing in their families the succeeding year. 

Here we have an exact date of record, thanks to the careful 
surveyor, Cornelius Clark, in his own clear caligraphy, ■written 
down in his field book: "On Thursday, the 17th dav of May, 
began surveying for the company." Eater ai)pears in connection, 
the year 1792. Then, after various memoranda follow the iiames 
of his assistants, closing \vith "Cornelius Clark, Capt. of ye 
Mess." It ■was this survev that ■vi'as the basis of the invaluable 



88 HISTORICAL ADDRKSS. 



()l( 



I inap 111 till- smilhwcst quartcT, iliscuvL-red a tVw years since, of 
wliicli a nunil)i.-i- of tac-similc copies hnvv l)L'cn made. It i;ivt;s 
llie number of tlie lots, of the acres in each, and to w'hom allotted. 
It shows tiiirty-fi\-e o\s'ners, besides the ministerial gospel lot, 
including 33 acres still standing in the name of the Proprietors. 
The list shows Mleazer Lathroj) to ha\'<.- had the largest holding, 
612 acres. 

The choice of lots fell to Nathaniel Gra\', the patriarch and 
leader of the settlement, and he chose ^\diat was designated as 
No. I, running east from the river and hounded on the east by lot 
No. 35, and on the north by the Quarter line, including Robinson 
Hill, Mr. Asa Foote's place, and extending so far southward as to 
include the Quarter Cemetery, which ^vas in good part a gift from 
liim. The plan to make the center of the town there was soon 
developed. The log ln)uses of Nathaniel Gray, and of his son 
Elijah adjoining, ^vho appear to have been joint owners of the 
premises, were located on the north side of the present north and 
south road and north\\'esterly from the burying ground, as has 
recently been stated by the daughter of Elijah, Mrs. Amanda 
Gray Lee, who still survives at Cedar ^Mountain, North Carolina, 
in her now loist vear, cherishing tender memories of dear old 
Sherburne ; and then in the deed given to James Elmore, date of 
June 28, 1798, to the present Asa Foote premises, the description 
is given as follow.s : " Ik-ginning at a stake where the roadscross 
each other, east of north from Nathaniel Gray's house," clearly 
indicating the location of that house, — the two houses, as already 
stated. This is of historical interest, as the first school in 
Sherburne was taught there, and the Congregational Church in all 
probabilty organized there. 

Al)ram Dixon, a son of Major Joseph Dixon and iie]ihew of 
I^lijah Gray, thus descril:)es a visit to that primiti\-e Gray home- 
stead, winter of 1794-5: "Deacon Gray, (who was my step- 
grandfather,) and his son Elijah Gray, (whose wife was my 
mother's sister,) had built a double log house, one part of which 
was occupiecl as a school house si.v hours a day. We tound the 
school in full blast, under the care of Elisha Gray, brother of my 
uncle Elijah, who at the same time occupied the same room as a 



HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 39 

dwelling for his family, consisting of his wife and three children : 
Nathaniel, about my own age, and Amanda and Hannah, and it 
.served as kitchen, parlor, dining and sleeping room, except that 
we, the children, ^v-ere sent up the ladder into the loft, to bed !" 
Tliis Amanda is Mrs. Amanda Gray Lee, of Cedar Mountain, N.C. 
The late Simeon B. Marsh, in a reminiscent cnmmunication to 
The SItcrhuruc Nezus, date of 1870, relates the following incident 
connected with that house worthy of reproduction here : " There 
were a remarkable number of natural singers with good voices 
among the families that then composed the congregation. A Mr. 
Fuller "was the first teacher of music employed by the people. 
The singers being assembled one evening for practice in Deacon 
Gray's log house the floor suddenly gave way in the midst of a 
tune and sank in the shape of a funnel, ^vhere men, w^omen, table, 
chairs, cradle, baby, books and all were luicomfortably huddled 
together ; and the story went that Mr. Fuller kept on with his 
tune, singing and beating time until he had finished it. Fortun- 
ately the cellar was not deep and consecjuently no one was hurt, 
without it was by excessive laughter ! " And so these staid and 
steady going sons and daughters of the Puritans did occasionally 
unbend. 

The summer of 1792 was a busy and eventful one in the new- 
settlement. The pioneers, mainly if not wholly composed of the 
original Proprietors, are said to have made their headquarters in 
a hastily constructed cabin near the mouth of the Handsome 
Brook, which the Indians called Toto. There the only ^voman 
who accompanied this party, Mrs. Betsey Gray Raymond, wife 
of Abram Raymimil, presided over the culinary department of 
the camp. Her graphic narration of those early experiences is 
still retained in the memory of at least one person who in after 
years heard it from her lips. A bedstead was formed for her by 
small poles extended from between the logs, and she ^vas the 
only one honored ^vith such a piece of furniture. On awakening 
in the morning she Avould be greatly amused to see the heads of 
the colony in different directions on the floor. Evidently there 
was a good deal of indi%-iduality in that ]irimiti\e group. The 
repressions of conventi(.>nalism had not yet moukled them into 



40 HISTORICAI. ADDKKSS. 

one common i;^roovo. They were :utivi.ly engaged in selecting 
sites for and in the erection nt' their rude li)g cabins, in making 
rough roadwa}'s for communication, and in felling the forest. 

One of the first things they did -was to build a saw mill on Mad 
Brook, on the south side, some distance belo-w the Falls. And it 
Avas there that the first sermon was ])rcaclu-(l in Slu-rburnc, or in 
all this region, by the Rev. Hlackleach Kurritt, the noted patriot 
preacher, \vho had suffered imprisonment in the notorious Sugar 
House at Ne^v York, as the penaltx' for his zeal and abilit}' and 
courage during the perilous days of the Revolution. He had 
been the pastor of the little flock while they tarrietl at Duanes- 
burgh, and had now come on to ^•ie^v the land, and to see how 
his neighbors and kindred (three of his daughters married three 
of the pioneers) were prospering in their to be new homes. He 
happily chose his theme for that occasion from Isaiah. " The 
wilderness and solitary place shall be glad for them, and the 
desert shall rejoice and fdossom as the rose." And ^\■i1hout stoj)- 
ping, after the manner of some modern theologians, to speculate 
as to whether the grand old prophet really \vrote it or not, he 
went straight on and expounded it as the Word of God. It was 
indeed a happily chosen theme. A love of song and joyous hope 
had survived the hard lessons of the veteran preacher's life and 
still glowed in his heart. So he lifted up his v'oice in this 
prophesy of ])romise, and on the determines! faces of that sturdy 
band of pioneers, and on their strong arms and brave and rever- 
ent hearts he saw written its sure fulfillment. With prophetic 
vision he beheld the mighty monarchs of the primeval forest 
whose crested spears flashed in the simlight, fall before the 
stroke of the woodman's axe ; in place of the silence of the deep 
w^oods or its wierd moanings, he heard happy voices ; where had 
been the lair of the wild beast or the trail of the stealthy savage 
he sa\v the jocund farmer drive his team afield ; he heard the 
busy hum of industry, he saw the thriving happy homes, the 
cultivated farms and glebes crowning the summits of the hills ; 
he heard the sweet music of the Sabbath bells, and saw the 
church spires pointing heavenward while faithful pastors led the 
way. He saw it all ,-ind rejoiced in it all. It was fruitfid ground 



HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 4I 

fur the preacher on which to sow his seed. His hearers were not 
idle dreamers ; they Avere not waiting for some favorable turn in 
the wheel of fortune ; they did not sit down and wait for God to 
fulfill his OAvn promises "without effort on their part ; they did 
not expect their Isaiah to go forth and hew do^vn their forests. 
The}' had already commenced to l)uild their log liouses and let in 
the sunlight. 

During the later summer and fall, having accomplished the 
w^ork they had set out to do, all the pioneers returned to their 
families, except Abram Ravmond and his ^vife, whij removed to 
a little settlement at what is now Norwich, where they remained 
during the winter, their cattle subsisting on browse and their 
family on pounded corn. The follo^ving spring, the pioneers re- 
turned to Sherburne, on \vhich occasion it is related of Ne^vcomb 
Raymond that, taking a bag of corn on his back he walked to 
Greene, by marked trees, Avhere he had it ground, and so made 
the return trij) with the bag of meal. But this is only one of 
the minor incidents of hardship of those primitive days. 

The spring and early summer of 1893 witnessed a lively 
emigration in this directif)n. And it was not confined alone to 
the Proprietors and their families, most of whom came on at that 
time, but many of their friends and neighbors joined with them, 
and others who had heard of the fertile and beautiful Valley of 
the Chenango came this ^vav prospecting with the view of set- 
tlement. It was a part of the great overflow of Ne^v England, 
of that Yankee invasion of Ne\v York which had steadily ex- 
tended its irrepressible advance all along the borders from the 
days of Wouter Van T\villcr imtil n(nv. In a comparativel}' short 
period the ^vhole township was taken up and populated. There 
were the Grays from Beverly, Mass., by way of Windham County 
and Sharon, Conn., t^vo of whom, Nathaniel and John Gray, Sr., 
had been soldiers in the French war, 1758, and the latter a 
member of the Committee of Public Safety in King's District, 
present Columbia Co., during the Revolution, — both prominent 
members of the new settlement ; there were the four Lathrop 
brothers, Capt. Josiah, Eleazer, John and Ezra, stalwart sons of 
Deacon Melatiah, who was of Kent, Conn., and Dover Plains and 



42 IIISTORTlAI. ADDRESS. 

Canaan, N. Y., descendants (d ihe hdnorable Lathri)]) laniily of 
New I'dii^land, from Ri'v. Jolm Latliro]), the noted Dissenter: tlie 
Hatch brothers, Squire Joel and Deacon Timothy, sons of Major 
Jethro Hatch of Kent, Conn., and descendants of Jonathan early 
of Hartwieh on the Cape — men of marked individuality, without 
^vhom the S(.'ttlement ^\•ould ha\-e been incomjdete ; the three 
Raymond brothers, Newcomb, James and Abram, sons ot David 
and Bethiah Newcomb Raymond, from Kent, Conn., by way of 
Duanesbiirgh, of a family of Huguenots early of Norwalk, Conn., 
and still earlier (1630) of Beverly, Mass., — sturdy, patriotic, true 
men ; Cornelius Clark, a New Jersey Scotchman with a Dutch 
Bible, and a compass and chain, and knowledge of how to use 
them — LUi invaluable aid to the settlers and a useful member of 
tJic new community; the eminently respectable Elmores from 
Columbia Co., N. Y., whither they had come from Sharon and 
Hartford, Conn.; the honoral)le Benedict family from Xorwalk, 
Conn., by way of Westchester Co., N. Y. ; the Northrojis from 
IMilford, Conn., by way of Westchester Co. ; Lorain and James 
Curtis from the Curtis family of Stratford, Conn., liy way of 
Berkshire Co., Mass. ; the Isaac Foote family, so ]u-ominenI in 
the earlv davs here, from Colchester, Conn., and of Samuel Foote, 
kindred of Isaac, from Gill, Mass., both descendants of Nathaniel 
Foote earlv of Wethersfield, Conn.; the Dixons from Manchester, 
Vt., bv wav of Kent and Lebanon, Conn.; the Rex fords from New 
Haven and Barkhamsted, Conn. ; the Pratt family from Conn., 
b}- way of Spencertown, Columbia Co., N. Y.; the Talcotts from 
Bolton and Wethersfield, Conn.; the White family from Vermont 
In- wav of Jericho, N. Y.; the Guthries from Litchfield, Conn., 
and Brimfield, Mass.; the Paddlefords from Litchfield Co., Conn.; 
the Purdy family from Westchester Co., descendants of Francis 
and Mary Purdy early of Fairfield, Conn. ; the Babcock. and 
Briggs, and Wilcox, and Lyon, and Reynolds, and Carpenter fam- 
ilies from Rhode Island ; the Reese and Race families from 
Stockbridge, Mass.; the Percivals from the Cape, byway of Lee, 
Mass.; the Gardiners from Gardiner's Ishunl, by way of Stoning- 
ton and Colchester, Conn.; the Newtons, also from Colchester ; 
the Collins, and Billings, and Davis, and Sexton families from 



HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 43 

Somers, Conn.; the Averys from Stonington, Conn., by way of 
Durham, N. Y.; the Allen and Simons families from Gill, Mass.; 
the Thompsons and Wilbers from Dutchess Co.; the Lynda and 
Carver families from Brookfield, Mass.; Orsamus Holmes from 
Springfield, Vermont; the Gortons from Ne-w London, Conn.; the 
Stebbins family from Hartland, Conn.; tlie Burritt and Welles 
families from Stratford, Conn.; the Brown, Whitney, Rose, and 
Eaton families from Winhall, Vt.; the Hibbards and Meads from 
Greenwich, Conn. ; the Perrys, Haxtons, and Scovilles, trom 
Columbia Co., N. Y. ; the Follett family from Vermont ; the 
Mudge family from Sharon, Conn., and Columbia Co., N. Y.; the 
Rynex from Schenectady Co.; the Kinsley's from Conn., and the 
Austins from Sheffield, Mass., by way of Clinton, N. Y. 

Many others might be named but there is not time here to call 
the ridl of all these worthies. Altogether they contained some 
of the best blood of NeAV England, and the Sherburne of to-day 
indeed honors itself in hiinf)ring these men of an hundred years 
ago. The^' Avere mostly in the prime and vigor of manhood, and 
did not shrink from the great task before them. Through their 
toils, and struggles, and labors, and patriotism, and heroism, the 
Nation had birth, and they were regnant with its new life. 

Such ■were the settlers of those early days. They brought their 
religious convictions with them, and that was a very important part 
of their character. It is stated that the advance company arrived 
on a Saturday night in March, 1793 ; that the}' assembled for re- 
ligious worship on the second Sabbath follov\-ing, and that the 
custom was continued by them ever after, \vhctlier the}' had a 
preacher of the Word ^^-ith them or not. Their first organization 
was that of the Congregational Church of Sherburne, date of 
Julv 6, 1794, which has ever been and still remains a tower of 
strength in this communitx", and c)n its grounds this Centennial 
is very properly celebrated to-day, and this monument set u]). 
They believed something, thev knew what they believed, and 
they were ready to stand fur it against the \v(irld. They were 
plain and unpretentious, as modest as lirave, fuit as firm antl un- 
yielding as this granite; freedom-loving, God fearing, the typical 
sons of New Enefland. 



44 HISTORICAL ADPRKSS. 

To go l)ack to tlie gciusis of things: The ^\•onlc■n of ShcTl)nrne 
must not he forgottt-n; tor tin.- gohlcn thrcatls of their lives are 
woven in all tiie warp and woof of its history. What wives and 
mothers anil s\veethearts and hel])meets they were ! They were 
like tlu'Wdinan eulogized in Holy Writ: "She riseth also while it 
is yet night and giveth meat to her household." •' She seeketh 
wool and flax and worketh willingly with her hands;" "She 
maketh tine linen and sellcth it ;" "She layeth her hands to the 
spindle, and her hands hold the distaff;" " She is not afraid of the 
winter for her household, for all her household are clothed with 
scarlet;" "The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her ;'* 
" Her children rise up and call lier blessed." 

To particularize a little: Diantha Kurritt, wife of John Gray, Jr., 
had been a school teacher in Vermont before her marriage, and 
was a woman of literary taste, as a i:)oem written Ijy her, still 
preser\-ed, testifies; Melissa Hurritt, wife of James Ra\nionil, was 
noted for strong traits of character ^\ hich are perpetuated in 
her descendants; Martha (I'at.sy) Hurritt, wife of Elisha Gray, 
w^as a woman of more than usual ability — all daughters of Rev. 
Blackleach Burritt and Martha Welles his wife, who was a direct 
descendant of Thomas Welles, the noted Dissenter, distinguish- 
ed as one of the early Colonial Go\-ernors of Connecticut ; 
Mabel Gray, the lovable and belo\-ed wife of Newcomb Ra\"inond, 
was a daughter of John Gray, Sr. ; Betsey Gray, another daughter 
of John Gray, Sr., was the wife of Deacon Abram Raymond, and 
the pioneer woman of Sherburne; Ruth Gray, the only daughter 
of Nathaniel Gray and Deborah Lathroj), (his tirst wife) who was 
the sister of the four Lathrop brothers, was the wife of Squire 
Joel Hatch; Ruth Welles, a sister of the wife of Rev. Blackleach 
Hurritt, was the wife of Deacon Timothy Hatch; Mercy Raymond, 
\sho was the wife of Major Joseph Dixon, and Sarai Raymond, 
the wife of Elijah Gray ; Bethiah Newcomb-Raymond, wife of 
Nathaniel Gray (by a second marriage of each) and the mother ot 
the two sisters and the three brothers Raymonil — all these, and 
others, might W(.ll be mentioned as types of the women of the 
early days in Sherlnirne, and lu)\v ■sv'orthy the}' were of the trib- 
ute which is loyall}' and gratefully paid them this day. 



HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 45 

From the time of the tirst settlement until Mareh 5, 1795, when 
the 8th antl 9th t<)\\'nshiptf were organized as a distinct civic 
autonomy under the name of Sherburne, they were nominally 
under the jurisdiction of the town of Paris, yet nothing appears 
in the records of that township of that date referring to matters 
in either of these two towns; not the appointment of a single 
ofHcer, or the laying out of a single road district — no reference 
whatever — from which it may be inferred that they \N'ere left to 
govern themselves, ^\■hich they were C|uite capable of doing. 

The act of the Legislature incorporating this town on the date 

named, specified that the first Town Meeting should be held "at 

the dwelling house of Timothy Hatch," \vhi'di was a log house, 

located on the upper cross road over the river, not far from 

the present Wiley residence ; and it was there held on the first 

Tuesday in A])ril, 1795, Isaac Foote acting as Moderator. The 

following officers were then and there chosen : 

Supervisor — Isaac Foote. 
Town Clerk — Orsamus Holmes. 

Assessors — John Hibbard, Joseph Simons, Josiah Lathrop. 
Constable and Collector — Eleazer Lathrop. 

Overseers of Highways — Joel Northrop, Abner Calkins, James Raymond, Stephen 
Parker, Joseph Guthrie. 

Pound Keeper — Newcomb Raymond. 

Commissioners of Highways — John Lathrop, John Guthrie, Timothy Hatch. 
School Commissioners — Isaac Foote, Orsamus Holmes, John Hibbard, Josiah Lathrop. 
Fence Viewers — Joel Hatch, Ichabod Munger. 

Isaac Foote was continued as Supervisor for three years, then 
John Gray, Sr., three years, then Jesse Hutchinson two years, 
Joseph Simons, three years, 1803, '5, '8; Joel Hatch, 1804, '9, '12; 
John Gray, Jr., 1810-11 ; Stephen Benedict, from 181 3 to 1826, 
inclusive; Tilly Lynde, 1827, '31, '32; Smith M. Purdy, 1828; Milo 
Htuit, 1829-30; James N. Cassells, 1833-35; James Thompson, 
1836-37; Philo Robinson, 1838-39 ; Devillo White, 1840 ; William 
Newt<)n, 1 84 1. 

For Town Clerk, Orsamus Holmes was continvied until his 
removal from the place, in the spring of 1803; James Elmore was 
his successor, holding the office until 181 8; then Samuel Stebbins 
until 1831 ; then Devillo White five years; Joseph Benedict, 1836; 
William Cook, 1837; Joshua Pratt, Jr., 1838; Stephen Benedict, 
from 1839 to 1842; William Cook, 1843; John P. Deitz, 1844. 



46 IIISTORHAI, AOnRESS. 

Isaac Foote and Nathaniel (iray \vcr<.' the first Justices of tlie 
Peace appointed, date of l'\li. iS, 1795, and as \vill he seen, jjrior 
to the incorporation of the tnwu. Later, in 1798, Joel Tliom])S(>n, 
Elijah Sexton, Nathaniel Kint;. were made Justices, and the latter 
a Master of Cliancery, iSoi. Da\id Dixon was api)ninted Justice 
of the Peace in March, 1S04. Also Joel Hatch, Josejih Simons, 
Jonathan Pettit, Stephen Benedict, Elisha Mills, Lyman S. Rex- 
ford, Joseph Gvithrie, and James Sheffield, at various times ^v'ere 
appointed to that office. It was a judicial position of no little im- 
portance in the earh^ da^•s, and it is not derogation of any others 
to say that none more magnified ihe office than did Squire Joel 
Hatch, who \\'as in himself a i|uaint and original i)ersonality 
around whom treidition loves to linger in interesting reminiscence. 
His summing up of strong, hard common sense in his significant 
" On the general ^vhole !" his abilitv to make up his mind and 
keep it made, as instanced in the trial before him on an occasion 
^vhen one of the la^vyers in the case strongly protested against his 
dropping off into a nap during the continuance of his argument, 
to which he tersely and characteristicall}" replied, "Never mind ! 
Go on ! I decidetl this case more than an hour ago !" and to the 
surprise of the indigiiant pettifogger the sequel proved that it 
was in fax'or of his client that the Squire had decided; — his self 
forgetfulness, as instanced in his humorous attem]>t to shave su- 
gar for his coffee from a whetstone; and his going to a neighbor's 
to borrow a steel-yard and carrying away a strip of dried pump- 
kin which he had all unconsciously taken in its stead, -^these are 
but a few flash lights u])on his iniitjue indi\'iduality, \vhich on 
occasion to\vered up to his full stature, as illustratetl in the fol- 
lo\ving incident taken from Hatch's History of Sherburne. It 
appears he had gone to Alban_\- in the Avinter of 1808, as a duly 
accredited agent, to present a petition to the Legislature asking 
for a division of the 8th and 9th to\vnships. On appearing, he 
found a stroiig array in o])])osition. After some time had been 
spent upon the question lie was invited to give such information 
as he was able upon the subject. He arose at o;ice, and was en- 
tering into the merits of the case in his peculiar manner, riveting 
the attention of the house to such a degree that the opposition 



HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 47 

became annoyed, when in order to break him down they raised the 
question of his right to speak there, washing to kno\v if he was a 
Member, etc. This interriijjtion and these remarks were con- 
strued by him as an infringement upon his right of petition, for 
the securing of which he had shouklered his musket in the Rev- 
olutionary war, and it arousetl the spirit and energy of the okl 
hero. His stentorian voice instantly rang through the hall as he 
exclaimed : "I came here with a petition from the people ! I am 
one of the people ! I have a right to l:)e heard, and I ^\•ill be 
heard !" From tiiat moment he was listened to ^vith e\'ident de- 
light by the large majority of those present, and it is scarcely 
necessary to add that Squire Hatch's petition prevailed. 

The first election of Justices of the Peace li}" the people ^\•as at 
the general election in 1827, Mills Landon, Jonathan Copeland, 
Smith M. Purdy, and Joseph Guthrie being then chosen. The first 
Justice of the Peace elected at Town Meeting was in 1835. 

James Pllmore was the first Postmaster in Sherburne, having 
been appointed in January, 1801. He was also the first merchant, 
and it is said also hung out the first sign for an inn, though there 
•were several other inn-keepers before him, Samuel Picket hav- 
ing taken out a license for that purpose as early as 1797. James 
Elmore erected the first framed house in towni, on the site of Mr. 
Asa Foote's present residence, something over a mile north of this 
village, a part of which still remains in its primitive condition. 
It ^vas there that Judge Isaac Foote delivered an address (jn the 
occasion of the death of Washington, the last of Deceniber, 1799. 
Mr. Elmore was succeeded as Postmaster by Jnhn Guthrie, and 
afterwards Mr. S. P. Scoville, whu Avas a merchant in Sherburne 
village, and a brother-in-la\v of Mr. Elmore, hehl that office for 
many years. 

In this connection it is interesting to notice that the West Hill 
is frecpientlv mentioned in tlie town records, early as 18 16, as 
Sherburne West Village, and this place ^vas spoken of, in the Olive 
Branch, published on the West Hill, date of 1S06, as "Sherburne 
Turnpike Village." In fact that place had i)riority of existence, 
its principal rival in the early days being the settlement at ^vhat 
became kno\vn as the Quarter, and RoViinson's Hill. In the latter 



48 HISTOKRAI. ADDRESS. 

part of 1802, a store was oponctl on ilic West Hill bv Gerritt Y. 
Lansing, Jr., of Albany, \\li() luul previously to his going there 
been for a time at Herkimer. The store ^v'as located on the north 
east corner of the cross roads in a wooden building some years 
since torn down, and it was lor inan\' \-ears a jdace of much 
business activity, it being the principal trading post for all the 
surrtnnuling country. Mr. Lansing was succeeded by his enter- 
prising clerk, Tilly Lynde, in i<So5, and it was there that he 
accumulated what in those days was considered a handsome 
fortune, he having been one of the most prosperous and success- 
ful merchants that ever lived in Sherburne, as well as having 
achieved much prominence in jmblic life. Soon after the store 
was started an inn was erected by Samuel Foote of the 8th town- 
ship, on the south-west corner, (the present Sexton homestead,) 
and in 1803 Mr. Foote was appointed Postmaster of the office 
thci'c estaljlished. The mails from Coopcrsto\vn west to Homer, 
and north and south between L^tica and Oxford crossed there at 
that time, making it a place of transfer of importance. In 1810- 
I I Tilly Lynde was the Asst. P. M. 

On the 25th day of November, 1800, a new church society was 
formed on the West Hill entitled "The Second Calvinistick Society 
of Sherburne," which was evidently intended to absorb and sup- 
idant the First Congregational Church and Society, which luid 
already been formed on the east side of the river, and it came 
very near doing so, comprising as it did at the outset a large 
majority of the men and families of influence in the community. 
After a long time spent in trying to agree upon a common 
centre, \viiich must of necessity be upon one side of the river or the 
other, the effort was finally given up, and a Church was organized 
on the West Hill date of October 18, 1803, and soon thereafter a 
meeting house was built — believed to be the first church edifice 
erected in Chenango County, and which is still standing, though 
used now these many years for other purposes. The following 
year the East or First Congregational Society erected a church 
building on the West side of the road on Robinson Hill. 

And so the rivalry between the two village sites for supremacy 
was continued. In the wa\- of numbers, and business, and ma- 



llISTORICAL ADDRESS 49 

terial prosperity, the West Hill, receiving as it did the strong and 
undivided support of the 8th township, had the decided advan- 
tage, but neither of them ^vas to win the coveted prize; for in the 
meantime the present village of Sherburne, which at the first 
^vas considered an unfavorable site, and promised nothing better 
than good farm land ^vhen once it was cleared up and the low 
levels on its borders drained, began development. Nature had 
presented an almost impassable barrier to the location of a center 
of business at the Quarter or \-icinity, in the shape of Granville 
Hill rising abruptly to the eastward, making communication in 
that direction very difficult. A better highway for travel and the 
freighting of goods and j^roduce early became imperative, and it 
^vas found in the divide of the hills made by Mad Brook in its 
westward course to this valley. The outlet was here. This was 
the natural approach from the east and to the east, and \\'hen 
once the road ^vas laid out which afterwards came to be knoA\'n 
as the Great Western and the Cherry Valley Turnpike, bisecting 
as it did the north and south road, the Chenango Valley Turnpike, 
at this point, the center of business for this township, and the 
site of the village to be, \vere fixed as absolute as if a decree had 
been entered to that effect. And from that day this place steadily 
increased in population and business importance. 

One of the first to observe and foresee and take advantage of 
the new situation, was Dr. Asa White, who had early settled on 
the cross road near the upper river bridge ; and he put his faith 
in the future of this place into practice by the purchase, in 1802, 
of this south-east corner, comprising all that part of lot No. 12, 
originally allotted to John Gray, Sr., lying south of the east turn- 
pike road and extending to the lands of John Hibbard on the 
south, and to the cjuarter line on the east, embracing altogether 
tliii'tv-four acres, including the site upon ^vhich this Centennial 
celebration is held and this monument stands, the title being di- 
rect to him from the Proprietors. The erection of his inn and 
residence on this corner follo^ved, and that was the beginning of 
the village of Sherburne. A store was built over opposite on the 
north-east corner, by Alfred Gray, son of John Gray, Sr., the 
original owner of those premises, and Stebbins & Scoville built 



50 HISTORICAL ADDRKSS. 

an inn un tlic sc iiith-\vi.'st corner, site of the present Daniels 
House as early as 1803. about which time Zacch.tvis W. Elmore 
commenceil in trade in a small way on the west side of South 
Street, opposite the Congregational Church grounds, and after- 
wards JosliiKi Pratt, h'Jias Habcock, and others, successi\'ely 
engageil in l)usiness here. 

The future village was booming, and the Oiuirter and the West 
Hill took note of it with jealous eye. So early as icSio the removal 
of the church building from Robinson's Hill to the borders ot 
this village was undertak'en, — a recognition of the fact that the 
sceptre luul departed from thence. And so this place grew and 
its future was made secure. The village was incorporated as 
such April 16, 1830. The building of the Chenango Canal, 
commenced in 1833 and completed in 1837, marked an era of 
phenominal grt)wth and speculation liere. In fact, property' was 
then sold in this village at prices that would frighten the steady 
going burgher of to-day. A great collapse followed the panic of 
1837, but fortunately the canal was undisturbed by it, and "the 
soil still remained in its ])lace!" 

The growth of the town ofSliefburne ^vas rapid and continuous. 
Tile nuniber of qualified voters in 1795 A\'as 79; by 1807 they had 
increased to 423, t^vo being colored men ^vho hail the property 
qualification. By the census of 1800 the population was 1,282, 
and in 1810 increaseil to 2,520, although in the meantime the 8th 
to-wnship had been set oft" as Smyrna. On the last assessment 
roll for highways on Avhich both to^vns appear as one, 1808, are 
588 names of male adults liable to such duty. Tlien, too, it must 
be remembered that this remarkable movement of population 
took place when the facilities of travel and transportation were 
exceedingly limited. 

According to Mr. Hatch's History the name of Sherburne came 
in this way : "After the bounds had been agreed upon, the 
question was asked by one of the members of the Legislature, 
' What name shall we give it ?' The reply was : 'The inhabitants 
of that place alwavs sing in their religious meetings a time called 
Sherburne, and I think that name will suit them better than any 
other.' And so it was called Sherburne." What sweet association, 



HISTORICAL AUDKESS. 5I 

and lii)\\' suggestive. Tlic pioneers, with all their plainness and 
the severe exaetions of their lives, had an imdertone of deep 
sentiment in their natures ; were lovers of song, — and so they 
gave us Sherburne, as a sweet synonym of their symphonies. 

Sherburne and Smyrna were like twin brothers in the early 
days when they were one. The latter gave the town its first 
Supervisor in the person of Isaae Foote, a name ^vell placed upon 
this monument, and one which we will all rise up to honor this 
day. He \\'as in every sense an eminent citizen, and Sher- 
burne may w'ell be pnnid to claim an interest in him. Then 
agaiit the 8th township furnished a worthy Supervisor and Mem- 
ber of Assembly in the person of Joseph Simons, and another 
Supervisor in Jesse Hutchinson. But it was inevitable that the 
two towns should finally be divided, as they were in 1808. The 
area of the townships was originally as follows: 8th, 25,780 
acres; 9th, 24,205, to \vhich has since been added by act of the 
the Board of Supervisors in 1852, from New Berlin, the district 
known as Skinner Hill, containing 3,231 acres, making altogether 
27,436 acres in this town as at present constituted. 

Sherburne has a wealth of agricultural resources, and has 
always been rated higher per acre on the tax roll than an\- other 
town in this county, in that respect showing the wisdom of the 
fathers in their selection. It \vas hea\'ily timbered in pine, hem- 
lock, maple, beach, elm, chestnut, butternut, oak and hickf)ry. Its 
alluvial meadows were rich, and its uplands produced large crops 
of grain, wheat and corn being the staples in the early days. No 
town in the county was ever its equal in those respects. The 
percentage of unproductive lands is at the minimum. Its dairies 
have had a reputation second to none. The number of sheep in 
the town in 1845 was 21,873, ^"'1 much attention was then paid to 
wool raising. But only very briefly can such data be referred to 
here. 

To return to the old Town Records: They are models of neat- 
ness and particularity, exceedingly well kept, a great credit to the 
painstaking care of the various Clerks who have served this town 
from the days of Orsamus Holmes and James Elmore until now. 
Only one book, extending from 1795 to 1800, of the general record 



52 IIISTORICAI. ADDRKSS. 

is missini^, lH'li\'\'eil to bi_- in tlir hands (if some one unwillingly 
"who has borrowed it. Has never been in the jjossession of the 
present Town Clerk. It is invaluable, and should be found and 
returned. Some other books and records of that period are how- 
v\'er i)reser\'ed. The general election record goes back' to 1799. 

The records give evidence of a favoring view, in fact of advanced 
opinions, concerning internal navigation, in the following cpiaint 
resolution ]iasscd at the annual Town Meeting held March 2, 1802: 
"Agreed, that a i)etition be sent to the Legislature praying that 
the several towns w^here the Chenango River passes through, 
that each tow'n be taxed a sufficient sum to clear said river so that 
Arks ina\' pass ! " Nothing small about tliat. v\nd Caj)t. Nathaniel 
Austin did essay to take his Ark down the ri\er the follo\\-ing 
sjjring, and sailed aw'ay never to return. A brave, adventurous 
spirit \vas his. At 17 }'ears of age he was married, having previ- 
ous!}- been a soldier of the Revolution. At twenty he was the 
father of three sons, and a prisoner sentenced to death for ha\ing 
])artici])ated in Shay's Rebellion. However, by the aid of his \\-ife, 
he escaped, and nfterwanls Avas one cjf the jiioneers of Sherburne. 
He organized the first Military Co. in this town, 1796, electing 
himself as Captain. 

Wolves, bears and ])anthers, roamed through the thick forests, 
\n\t none of the settlers were injured b\- them, though there were 
some narrow escapes. There were plenty of deers, and for sev- 
eral years they "were occasionally seen in the v\^oods hereabouts. 
As late as 1805 it was voted that a bounty of $10 be paid for 
"the k'illing of a grown Avolf \\ithin the bounds of this town and 
$5 for a young one." At the Town Meeting in 1806 it was "Voted 
that swine, rams and wolves be the same as last vear," showing 
that the "varmints" ■were not yet exterminated. No bounty aj)- 
pears to have been offered on bears although cjuite common in 
those days, their meat pn)babl\- being considered a sufficient 
compensation for their destruction. In fact, an old Revolutionar}' 
soldier could look an ordinary bear out of countenance. 

That the Forefathers were unjustly chargeil with being addicted 
to the drink habit, and did not look with favor in those early days 
\ipon making this a "drv" town, is decisively negatived by the 



HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 53 

following sigMiificant extract made Irom the record: "At a s])ccial 
Town Meeting- held at the East Meeting House, on Tuesday the 
17th of Jannar}-, 181 5, Joel Hatch, Moderator, voted to petition the 
Legislature of this State at their next session to make a law' to 
prevent persons from drinking." A radical movement certainly, 
and a])pro\-ing at least of local prohibition. 

Of tile list of Jurors, date of iiSoi, comprising 1 14 names, the 
following classification of occujtations is given: Yeomen, 98; 
carpenters, 3; cord\N'inders, 3; joiners, 2; esquires, 2; clothier, i; 
hatter, i; tajdor, i; mason, i; blacksmith, i; merchant, i. A 
significant exhibit, showing the rural character of the settlement. 

In the early clays it was unciuestionably expected that Sher- 
burne ^\'ould l5e the County seat, and the location of the jail 
limits at the Four Corners in 1799, was such an indication. As 
Chenango Countv was at first constituted it was indeed well situ- 
ated for such a center, — a local Capital — and that fact doubtless 
accounts in part for tlie unusually large number of prominent 
men wlio located here, giving the place so much imjjortance. 
But the erection of Madison County in 1806, by which Sherburne 
was left on the extreme northern l.ioundar\' of Chenango, ^■oided 
all sucli expectations, and }et this tow-n had a ])redominating in- 
fluence in this county for many years after that division was 
made. 

The military record of Slierburne in the early times is not very 
full but is interesting as showing the martial spirit that prevailed. 
As already stated, Capt. Nathaniel Austin organized a company 
of militia, date of April 11, 1796, ^vith Joseph Guthrie, ist Lieut., 
and George Anderson, Ensign. Joseph Dixon was 2d Major and 
Nathaniel King Paymaster of Col. Clemens' Chenangt) County 
Regt., 1800. In 1803, John Guthrie was Paymaster; Asa White, 
Surgeon; Nathaniel Austin, Major; Isaac Foote, Jr., Adjutant; Joab 
Gardner, Surgeon's Mate; Josiah Lathrop, Joseph Guthrie, and 
Bigelow Waters, were Captains; Daniel D. Gardiner, Joshua Tal- 
cott, Jr., Wicks Smith, Al])heus Hall, Joel Lee, and Noah Robinson, 
Lieutenants; and John Gra}', Jr., Ensign, all of the 105th Regt., 
and all of Sherburne. 

In 1810 the records show Reuben Gray, Captain; Edward Gra} , 



54 IIISTORICAI. ADIlKESS. 

GardiiLT ami Hlmipv \\':it(.TS. Lii.-iiti.'nants; Xathani(.-1 V.. Griiv and 
Calvin Coe, Ensigns, and Tilly I. yndc, Ouartt-rmastcr, (afterwards 
Knsign.) In 1812 Marsena Alk-n was a LitutL-nant, and Reuben 
Gray (afterwards, 1817, Lient.-Col. nt a Chenango County Regt.,) 
was Captain of the Siierhurne Company that marched to the 
frontier under Col. Thompson Mead. The following military or- 
der issued \>y Col. Mead, per Tilly Lyntle, Adjutant, date oi May 
12, i<Si2, is ])ertinent to the forgoing: 

"Capt. Bigelow Waters, Capt. Joseph Billings, Capt. Solomon 
Kelsey, Capt. Reuben Gray, Capt. Rufus Rose, and Capt. Amasa 
Foote, are hereljy ordered and directed to jniraiU- their respective 
Companies at John Guthrie's in Sherburne, on Friday, the 22d of 
May, at 9 A. M., to furiiish their several c|uotas to march to the 
frontiers." 

In 1 814 the Brigade Returns of Gen. Obadiah German show 
Joshua Pratt, Jr., Cajitain; Theojiholus Robinson, Lieut., Johi\ 
Nash, Ensign, and Samuel Guthrie, Surgeon, in the I05tii Regt. 
Asa White tendereil his resignation as Major of tin- First Scjuad- 
ron of Light Dragoons, Feb. 19th, 1814, giving as a reason for his 
doing so, that he was "about to quit the State." 

A large proportion of the early settlers had been Revolution- 
ary soldiers, and one, Nathaniel Brown, is said to have been of 
the celebrated Boston Tea Party ; but the roll t)f honor is too 
length}' to be presented here, as is also that other roll of honor 
of Sherburne's .sons in that late-r contest for L^nion and Liberty 
represented by this narrowing band of the Grand Army of the 
Republic here to-tlay, showing that to the sons, as well as to the 
fathers, patriotism -was a crowning glory. 

The first church formed here, as already stated, was the First 
Congregational, date of July 6, 1794; the First Baptist Church, in 
the borders of the town near Earlville, and now located in that 
place, Jmie 24, 1802, with Polder John Mudge as jiastor; the Second 
Congregational Church, on the West Hill, October 18, 1803, Rev. 
Joshua Knight, jiastor; the Open Communion Baptist Church, on 
the P^ast Hill, organized as a branch of the Plainfield (Otsego Co.) 
Church, P\'b'3- 8, 1809; Christ Church, PIpiscopal, June 7, 1828, 
Rev. PLdward Andrews, Rector; the Second Baptist Church, of 
Sherburne village, July 2, 1836; the Methodist Church, March 12, 



HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 55 

1839; UnivLTsalist, Aut^ust 25, 1849; '^''"^l St. Malachi's, Roman 
Catholic, has had a house of worship here since 1858. 

The history of the schools of Sherburne woiihl make a very in- 
teresting chapter of itself, but can only be briefly alluded to here. 
The first school in towni, says Mr. Hatch in his history, 'svas at 
the house of Nathaniel Gray, the winter of 1793-94. "A peda- 
gt)gue by the name of Gardner ^\•as cmi)loyed to teach it. When 
exercising a class in spelling, he put the \v(jrd 'book.' The 
scholar spelled it b-u-k, and the teacher pronounced it right. 
Edward Gray, a son of John Gray, Sr., disputed this, wherevipon 
the master, in order to maintain the dignity of his station, under- 
took to correct him corporeally an<l a scuffle ensued from which 
the teacher came out second best. The result ^vas the school was 
broken up for the winter." So little progress had Volapuk made 
at that early period. The school was taught the second winter in 
the house of Elijah Grav, adjoining, Elisha Gray being the teach- 
er, and in the same ])hice the winter following, 1795-6, the 
official report of which in the neat caligraphy of Isaac Foote, one 
of the School Commissioners of the town, gives names of all the 
puj)ils, the number of da}'s during ^vhich they attended, and the 
heads of families so represented. P'rom that report it appears 
that there were two teachers during the winter — a Mr. Hartshorn, 
from December i, 1795, to Janiuiry 30, 1796, at $8 per month; and 
for the balance of the winter Elisha Gray at $10 per month. The 
report of the District at the p-orks, also appears for the latter 
part of the same ^vinter. Mr. Lemuel Hojikins was the teacher 
there at the munificent salary of $9 ])er month. There were 
51 pupils reported in the first named district, and 25 in the latter. 
The first school house in the town is said to have been built at 
the Quarter, 1797, and was used also as a place for holding meet- 
ings on Sundays. Tlie second, was in the district on the West 
side of the river, built the following year. From that primeval pe- 
riod what a development. Only passing reference can be made to 
the old Academy, established in this village about 1840, and ^\•hich 
is looked back to with fond memory by so many of the sons and 
daughters of Sherburne as their cherished Alma Mater. 

The early literary taste of the pioneers was attested by the 



56 IlISTORICAr. ADDRESS. 

incnrporatiiiii (if tlu- SliL-rliuriK' I'VmIlmmI I.il>r;iry, J;imiar\' lO, iSoo, 
some of the btnik's l)i.-l()n<;-iii^ tci whieli aix- still in existence. 

The first ne\%'s])aper i)uhlisiie<l in llu' tii\\-n and in tliis countv, 
Avas The Wistcni Oracle, hy Abraham Rcmieyn.at Slierbnrne Four 
■Corners, 1S03, a hie of AX'hieli is in the Centennial e.vhibit. The 
ne.\t was The Olive Branch, published by Pliinne}- & FairehiM, on 
tile West Hill, commencing in May, 1806, and ciintinued tliere un- 
til April, 1808, when it wa.s removed to Norwich. It was printed 
b\- John Fhu'el I-'airchild, who marrietl Flizal)elh Mi.-rrill, daugh- 
ter of Thomas Merrill ol tlu' I'^dui- Curners. The printing office 
was located on a lot piirchasetl of Oliver Wells, the hrst goldsmith 
in Sherburne, and was between the West Hill Meeting House 
and L\-nde's corner. Mr. I""aii-child's name ai)])ears (in the list of 
qualihed voters of this town for 1807. Files of that paper, b}- the 
ct)urtesv of Lew'ison Fairchild, Esq., of Cazenovia, are in the 
Centennial exhibit. In the volume of the j)a])<.'r published after its 
removal to Norwich, 1808, Mr. Fairchild advertises for sale, "A 
house and lot in the rich and flourishing town of Sherburne, a 
few rods west of the Meeting House 011 the WV^st Hill." So it will 
be seen that Sherburne had liegun to put on airs even at that 
earlv dav. The Republican Messenger, published by Jonathan Pettit 
and James Percival, appeared in the present village of Sherburne 
in 1810, but \\-as not long continued. So much for the press of 
the earh' times in which Sherburne took' the lead of an}" other 
town in the count}'. 

The ])(ilitical histor}' of the tiA\'n, a \'er}' interesting chaj)ter, 
can onlv be briefiv touched ujion here. In the earlier da}'s the 
i)ioneers seenied to be nearl}' all of one mind in regard to public 
affairs. In fact, at the annual Town Meetings, which were pri- 
niarilv held at the log house of some one of the settlers, or at 
some wavside inn, and afterwards alternati.-l}' at the Fast and 
West Meeting Houses, the minor officers were chosen by the uj)- 
lifted hand, and others, by "going around," whatever that might 
be. Per!ia]xs the passing of the quaint old original ballot box to 
be seen in the Centennial exhil)it. On the c|uestion of the war 
of 181 2 the majority were Federalists ; in the anti-Masonic times 
the majority were anti-Masons; in 1832, '34, '36, and '40, the 



mi// 




Col. \V\\. S. SA/[IT^. 

Born Nov. S. 1755; (jRAnuATF.n at Princeton, 1774; Major and Aide-de-Camp 
TO Gen. Sum. IVAN Aug. 15, 1776: I.ieut.-Coi.. ok Lee's Addiiional Con 11- 

NKNTAI. KeGT. ISiJaN. I777; TRANSKEKRED TO SpESCER'S ReGT. APR. 22, I779; 

Adjutant AND Inspector. Stake of Gen. LaFayeti'E to Jui.v, 17S1; Stake of 
Gen. Washington KRoM Jur.v, 1781; Sec'y Legaiion to London, 17S4: Mak- 
RiKD .•XniGAii, Adams, 1780; 1'rksideni- Society Cincinnati 1795-7; U.S. Mar- 
siiAi, \-j'&-); SuKVEYoK OK the Fort of N. V., iSdd; Originai. Owner of Sher- 
burne 1791; Member Congress 1812-14; Died June 10, 1816; Buried on tub 
West Hill. 



HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 57 

Whio-s wore lai-ovly in The majority at the general elections; in 
1S44, a hu-o;e Abolition vote and a small Democratic majoritv; in 
1848 and '52, again Wliig; in 1856, an.l since that time, largely 
Republican; in fact the banner town of that party in the county 
at the general elections. In passing we may remark upon the pres- 
ent lack of the local color and elan which characterized the great 
historic struggles of 1840 and 44, the like of which, with their Log 
Cabins and Hard Cider, and Processions, and Pole Raisings, and 
Cannon Firing, will never be seen again. Yes, what a storv might 
be told of that old brass cannon which heralded forth in notes of 
thunder from its brazen throat alike the victories r,f the Whigs 
and the Locofocos in those exciting daws. 

The honor of l)eing the first white male child born in the town 
is claimed alike for Lorenzo Hatch and Justin Guthrie. The first 
white female infant was Abigail Raymond, born 1793; the first 
marriage was that of J,,hn Hibbard and Betsey Sartwell, 1795; 
the first tleath among the pioneers was that of Joel Northrop, 
1802; the first grist mill on the Handsome Brook, the present 
Furman Mill. The Kershaw Mill, so called, was l)uilt at an early 
day In- Llisha Mills, and afterwards ou-ned successivelv by Fitch 
Raymond and Wells Hatch. Capt. Josiah Lathn,p had 'a mill <,n 
the river, not far from what was afterwards known as the Feeder 
Dam. 

Among the men prominent in pul)lic life in the early davs here 
were Lsaac Foote, Member of Assembly, State Senator, Countv 
Judge; Joel Thompson, Member of Assembly, Countv Judge, 
Member of Congress; Tilly Lynde, Member of Assembly, State' 
Senator; John Gray, Jr., Associate Justice. Later, Smith M. 
Purdy, County Judge and Member of Congress; Demas Hubbard, 
Jr., Member of Assembly and Member of Congress; Clark Burn- 
ham, Member of As.sembly and State Senator; Roswell Judson, 
County Judge and Surrogate. Two other names are prominently 
connected with the early history of Sherburne, that of Col. Wm'. 
Smith and Judge John Watts; the former the original purchaser 
of the township from the state, and the latter receiving the title 
of a large portion of it from him. Col. Smith achieved distinction 
as a .soldier of the Revolution, winning the high honor of becom- 



58 



IIISTOKICAI. AnUKKSS. 



inn' an .\iili.--cli.-(."anii> Id \\ asliini^tnn ; at llu- tlnsf ol tlu' A\ar was 
ap])<>inti'il Si.-(,r<.'tary ot Letjation to Ldndnn \\-licri.' lu' niai"rii.'il i1r> 
only (laui;'liicr (it John Ailanis, tlu-n Minister to Enghmil. Was 
aftcTwards V. S. Marshal, Surveyor ot the Port of Now York, ami 
retiring to his estate at Smith's \';illey, Lebanon, Madison County, 
he was eleeti'd Member of Cont;'ress. ,\t his death, in I.S16, he was 
buried f)eside his mother and his brothers in tin.' Slu'rlnirne West 
Hill Cemeterv, where a stone has i-eeenll\- bi.'i.'n plaeed at his 
i^ra\'e by his deseendants. Jud,L;\' jnhii Watts, ol Xl'W ^'ork, was 
a lamiliar |n.'rs(inalit \' in times within tlu' memor\' of those now- 
living, ^\•hen he sjjent jmrtiiins of tlie summer eaeh yt'ai- at liis 
Manor Housi.' so ealied, Just abo\-e the Kershaws. He aided 
niati.'rial I \' in the loundint;' of Christ Church at this iihico, being 
<ini.' of the largest eonii-ibuiors. He was the grandl'atlu-r of gallant 
Gen. riiil Kearney, who often N'isited Sherlnirne with him in his 
youth, and inherited this ])ortion of his instate. Another grand- 
son. Gen. J. Watts Del'eyster. of Tivoli and \\w \'orl<. still 
sur\M\'es, and is i|uite inti.'rested in SlnTburne. 

Hon. Joseph beiU'dict, wdiom wi.' all delight to honor, now in his 
93d yL-ar, and present with us on this oeeiision ; \dur \'eni.'rable 
fellow townsman, Miv William Cook, wdiosi,' name lor more than 
three-quarters of a eeiiturv has been a SN'Uonym lor urbanil_\' 
and uprightness in this eoimuunit v ; Ur. lX'\illo White, the son (d 
that otlu'r elder Dr. Whiti.', w hose bo\-hood home was on this spot, 
for half a eenturx' and more oui.' of the strongest ])ersonalit ii-s in 
this town, whose miquenehable ]>atriotisiii incited him to erect 
that other and ntdde monument here to other sons of Sherlnirne 
wdio Won imjierishable honors in defense of the l-'lag which the 
Fathers luul u])lield on other HeUls of glory; and then there is that 
son of Sherburni.' trom brookhn wdiosi.' ehxpient oration has so 
stirred our hearts lo-da\'; and a son of Sherburne, Hon I)a\'id L. 
Follett, \\ ho has Worn the I'rmine unsullied in the highest courts 
of this State. A groat-grandson n[' one cd' the Proprietors is a 
Missionary in far awa}- Corea, and the great-great-grandson ot 
another has lollowed tlu- star of (.-mpire to tlu- Ha\vaiian Islantls 
where with his Journalistic pi.-n he is stri\-ing to hold aloft the 
Stars and .Stripes ,it ll(inid\du. 



HISI-OKirAI AUDRESS. 



■59 




JAMl-.S TAI.COTT C 1 !■ lOKU, 



y\niiin_<;- tlu- suns aiiil (l;uiL;-litcrs 
of Slierbunu', ciiluT by birth, ilo- 
sccnt, nr aili ipticm, whu ilcser\'L' 
to be incntiniK'il Ikti.-, arc James 
Talcott Gifforib tlic t'oumler n\' the 
city of Elgin. 111.; Mrs. Rrv. 1). V. 
Sackett, of Cranfurcl, X. I., the only 
living chilli of one of tlu' I'l-oprie- 
tors, (danghter ot Jolm Cray. Jr.,) 
\%Mio was born in Sherburne, one 
of the foun'lers of l-".linira l'\'inale 
Collegw an<l a lads' of rare gifts 
and Worth; .Mrs. Aniaiiila (ira\- 
Lee, of Cedar Mountain, X. C, the 
<laughter of Elijah Gray, another of 
the Proprietors, wdm celebrated her centennial in Xo\,.'niber last, 
hav'ing been born before the settlement of Sherburne, and still 
retaining gri.'at interest in. anil lo\-e lor this honu- of hi.-r childhood; 
Philander Raymond, a son of James Raymond, one of the 
Proprietors, who was the blunder of Idledo, ().. and loremost in 
tile dewjopmeni of tin.' great iron indiistrii-'s in weslei-n Pennsyl- 
vania; iJr. Saniui-1 Ciuthrie, li-om Hidmfield, Mass., distinguished 
as the discoN'erer of anaesthetics; 1)|-. 1-dial T. f'oote, son of .Samuel 
Foote, ol .SherburuL' and Smxrna. eminent as a ])hysician and in 
public lile in Cliautauc|iui Count\', wdio was much interested in the 
history of this [ilacc; Dr. John I''. Grav, a grandson id" John Gray, 
Sr., Avhose log house stood neai' wdiat is now known as the L"])ham 
corner, who was the lirst 1 loiud'opathist iii iIk- cit_\- of Xew ^'()rk, 
v^'on fame and fortune' there, aiid ever (.'hei-ished a wondeidul Io\-e 
for his birthi)laec; Abigail Rasunoiid .Smith, daughter of ,\bram 
Ra\"mond, the first white Avonuni to cross the Rock\' Mountain.sas 
a Missionar}' to the Indians in i1k' farther West ; Rev. (). P. y\IR-n, 
son of Deacon Marsena Allen, of .Slierl)urne and Smyrna, and a 
bapti/e<l chihl ot ihe old West Ili|] Church, for over thirty years a 
faithful Missionary at Harpoot, Turkev'; .\nudia Xewton Little, 
the fairest daughter of the famih", and of this Cluirch, wdu) gave 
her life as a Missionarx" in far awa\- India; Alida C. .\\-er\-, M. D., 



6o 



HISTORICAI. ADDRESS. 




MAJOR CURTIS HURRITT RAYMOND. 



tor iiKiin' \cars Profes.snr of Physi- 
ology and Pliy.sician in (.liargf of 
Va.ssar College, now of San Jo.sc, 
California; Gen. John 1^. Gray of 
-New Viirk. a grandson of Judge 
John Gray, Jr.. one of the Pro])rie- 
tors, who won distinction as 
Adjutant General of the State of 
Missouri iluring tlu' war nf the 
Rebellion; Major Curtis Hurritt 
Raymond, late of Boston, grandson 
of James Raymond; Major Curtiss 
C. Gardiner, of St. Louis, ]\Io., 
grandson of Capt. Daniel Denison 
Gardiner of Sherburne West Hill ; 
Prof. Hubert A. Xe^\■ton, of \'ale, 
distinguished a?< a scholar and scientist the ^vorld over; Hon. 
Herschel H. Hatch, of Bay City, Mich.; the late Hon. Wm. Pitt 
Lynde, of Milwaukee; Rev. Shubael Carver, of Xnrth Bergen, \. 
Y.; Jas. R. Lathmp, Su])t. of the Roosevelt Hospital, New York- 
City; T. H. Matteson, celebrated as an artist; Sidney T. Fairchild, 
prominent in public affairs, and his brother Lewison Fairchild, 
sons of John F. Fairchild, publisher of the " Olive Branch" on Sher- 
burne West Hill, both baptised children of the old church there, 
may well be claimed as sons of Sherburne. A son of the former, 
Hon. Chas. S. Fairchild, of New York, has been Att'y Gcn'l of this 
State, and Sec'y of the Treasury of the United States. 

Hon. Chas. M. Grav, formerly Mayor of Chicago, was a native 
of Sherburne, and grandson of John Gray, Sr. Alvan Liitlirop, 
A. M., a grandson of Eleazer Lathrop, noted as a teacher; John H. 
Lathniji, LL. D., eminent as a Professor and educator; Abram 
Hi.xon, State Senator; Rev. Raymond Di.xon, the first graduate at 
Yale from Sherburne; Judge Cowing, of Ne^v York Cit}-, grand- 
son of Samuel F'oote; Judge Thacher, of Hornellsville, grandson 
of Amos Graves early of Sherburne; and Hon. John J. Foote, of 
Belvidere, a grandson of Judge Isaac l*~oote ^^■ho \\ as formerh- a 
New York State Senator. 



HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 



6r 



Orrin S. Wood, Esq., of Staten Island, ^vas Ijorn in Sherburne 
1817, the son of Benjamin Wood, a brother-in-law of the late Hon. 
Ezra Cornell, ^\•ith ^\•honl he was associated in the development 
of Amerieau Telegraphy, the first telegraph operator in the world, 
who has achieved fame and fortune on the lines of honorable en- 
terprise; and his sister, Mrs. Ezra Cornell, the mother of PLx-Gov. 
A. B. Cornell, of whom it is said : •■ At four }-ears of age she came- 
to live in Sherburne, spending four other }-ears in the excellent 
public schools r)f that place. Those Sherburne school davs did 
more than aught else to rijjen the beauty of her childhood into an 
especial charm of girlhood. They served to implant firmly her 
strong, calculating miml, which in mature years urged forward 
her venerated husband to foiuid a University the broadest in the 
land." What a comidiment to Sherluirne. 

The migrations of the early settlers were most remarkable. 
Like the true sons of the Pilgrims they \vent marching on, peopling 
other towns and cities in other states until we find them now in 
nearly every part of the Union and the islands of the sea. On this 
Centennial day how man}" of them are turning their longing eves 
hitherward with the desire to mice more view these loved scenes, 
exclaiming meanwhile with all the ardor of the Scottish jioet, "M\' 
heart's in the highlands, my heart is not here." And so ^\-c bid 
them hail, and all the worthies of the past, and all its tender mem- 
ories, on this day of days, this Centennial of dear old Sherburne. 



"We sleep and wake and sleep, but all things move; 
The Sun flies forward to his brother Sun ; 
The dark Earth follows wheel'd in her ellipse ; 
And human things returning on themselves 
Move onward, leading up the golden years." 



62 



EVENING EXERCISES. 

The evening exercises lieUl in the Congrej^ational Church were of a 
\cr\- interesting character, although the attendance was lessened by 
tile storm which hail interru]:ted the latti-r part of the exercises of the 
afternoon. However, there were a goodl_\- number present, and 
altogether it was a highly enjoyable occasion. 

Mr. M. D. Ra\-mond was called to preside, when, after music b)- 
the choir, the reading of extracts from a large number of letters from 
friends not able to be present, and which appear herewith on following 
pages, proceeded. Re\-. Shubael Car\er, of North Bergen, Genesee 
Co., a a Well j)reser\"ed octogenarian, who is a nati\'e of Sherburne and 
passed his youth and earl\- manhood there, was then introduced as the 
first speaker of the exening, and he proceeded to make a quaint, old- 
fashioned address. 

Hon. W'alstcne D. Pudne\-, of Cle\eland, Ohio, was introduced as a 
good representati\e of the N'ounger sons of Sherburne, who having worn 
the blue w ith honor in the war for the Union, had won success on other 
fields; and he hapi)il\- and in a patriotic spirit responded, doing honor 
to his nati\'e and his atlopted State. 

Dr. Elbert M. Somers, of Deansville, Oneida Co., a highly esteemed 
son of Sherburne, whose public and private life has full)- realized all 
the bright promise of his youth, and who when he went from here took 
with him one of the loveliest and most gifted of the daughters of Sher- 
burne as his wife, was then called out, and spoke substantiall\- as 
follows: •• \'(>u ha\e been so handsomel)- entertained of the pulpit and 
tile ]jress on this occasion that >'ou must listen with scimelhing of im- 
jxitience, I fear, to the less attractive words of a member of the silent 
profession, \e\ertheless I stand up cheerfully to be counted as one 
of the nati\-e born citizens of the town of Siierburne. Although forty 
)-ears of m_\' life have been spent elsewhere, 1 ha\'e ne\'er ceased to re- 
member the good friends of ni)- earlier }x-ars with sincere respect and 
affection. Indeed, it has been an axiom with me oft repeated, that to 



EVENING EXERCISES. 63 

have been born in the town of Sherburne was to liave been well born. 
Out of the forest prime\'al the fathers car\'ed this goodl_\- township, now 
ckithed in ricliest robe of deej^est green, and decked with gorgeous 
flowers of rich perfumes. It was ours to first look out upon this land- 
scape of surpassing beaut}', where a Cropse)-, a Bierstadt, and a Matte- 
son lingered long to drink in its beauties and transfer them to can\'ass. 
The laborious and accomplished Historian of the occasion has to-day 
made us proud of our heritage, proud of our parentage, and deeply 
thankful for the memories that cluster here." 

Re\'. Dr. E. M. Mills, of Elmira, followed with some oratorical ]:)\-ro- 
technics which added to his reputation as a brilliant off-hanti speaker, 
and much enlivened the occasion. 

Edward F. Lawrence, Esq., of the Elmira Adi'crtiscr, a son of 
Sherburne who is doing honor to his nati\e place, e\'inced his abilit)-, 
when called upon, to think on his feet and.to speak as he thinks, in a 
wa}- original and vivacious. 

James R. Lathrop, Esq., the able and cultured Supt. of the Roosevelt 
Hospital, New \'ork, who was an officer in the war for the Union, when 
called upon responded in a thoughtful wa\-, speaking a word for the 
American youth in American homes, closing his excellent remarks by 
the reading of a poem written b)- his father, the late Al\-an Lathro]), 
on visiting Sherburne, his native place, some fift_\' \'ears ago. 

Capt. Chas. A. Fuller, on being called out with a complimentary 
word by the chairman, happil}- and patriotically responded, but did 
not succeed in his effort to belittle the great services he rendered in 
aiding to make the Centennial a success. 

Re\". J. C. Barber, Messrs. Tucker, Peck, and J. H. Shep.u'd, George 
Buchanan, Cornetist, and Mrs. Botsford, Organist, furnished \er\- ac- 
ceptable music, including old " Sherliurne," and a pleasing feature was 
the felicitous rendering of a song entitled "The Chenango Valley," 
b)- the Dixon Brothers, Mrs. Billings and Frank A\ery, all grand- 
children of Major Joseph Dixon, the tune composed and words written 
by the late Simeon B. Marsh, formerl}- the Precentor of the Congrega- 
tional Church. 

A few farewell remarks b\- the chairman, ;i few kind words and the 
benediction b\- the pastor, Re\'. A. F. Xorcross, ami the Centennial 
anni\ersar\- of Sherburne had jiassed into history. 



64 



CENTENNIAL I.KTTr.KS. 



LKTTKK FROM MRS. AMANDA CRAY LEE. 




a child 



mingled in those scenes. 



Cki).\k Moir.NTAiN, North C.\roi.ixa,'[^ 
June loth, 1S93. ) 
Diar Mr. Ravniond: 

I thank you very much for the invitation to at- 
tend the Centennial, and which I would be so 
.i;lad to acce])t but cannot, as I am not stronjj 
enough to undertake a journey to dear old Sher- 
l)urne. The many interesting sketches received 
together with the corrcs]iondenee preceding 
tliem, have renewed and strengthened my affec- 
tion for the place, always beloved and never 
forgotten. 

I would love to be with you all on the memo- 
rial day, but since that is impossible, 1 send love 
and greeting to all of the children and grand 
children of Sherburne who take an interest in 
one who is, I think, the only survivor of the little 
band of pioneers of a hundred years ago, and 
who may well be called the "oldest inhabitant." 

The happiest days of my life were spent in 
Sherburne — days of .glad sunshine and music. 
1 dream of them now, almost forgetting the 
one's of labor, and trial, and sorrow, that have 
intervened since that far awa)- time when, as 
Your Kinswoman, 



^^Vv^-^^-^^^ -d^^C, 



LETTER FROM MRS. ELIZA R. WHITEMAN, 

Mii.TON, Ork.con, June 4th, 1S93. 

Dear Mr. Ravmotid: — How I wish I could be with you all on Centennial day. I could 
see the remnant of my old friends, and there will never be another such an opportunity. 
And to meet them all with the thrilling oneness of sjiirit that must prevail on that day 
would be a treat indeed. There will be wrinkles in the faces, and gray hairs on the tem- 
ples of those who were just in their prime when I saw them last, but that only serves to 
remind us of the lapse of time which you come to celebrate. 

As I cannot be with you on that occasion I send as a reminder of my interest in it, the 
first Ballot Bo.\ ever used in Sherburne. They elected their town officers for the first few- 
years by acclamation. Then, at a Town Meeting held at my grandfather's house, it was 
jiroposed to vote b\- ballot. Grandfather took a box which he had bought from the 
Indians, covered with straw laid in fancy checks and rows, and varnished. It is about a 
foot long, 3 inches high, and 6 wide. He thought it too pretty to spoil by cutting a hole 
in the top, so he turned it over, and they put in their ballots through a hole which he cut 
in the bottom. How would you like to look into a ballot box which was used 95 or more 
years ago, and which never knew fraud, or trickery, or decejition ? Once, when speak- 
ing at a Prohibition meeting in Washington Territory, I said, "When I have an ojjportu- 
nity to vote for Temjierance, my grandfather's ballot box will not be too good to have a 
hole cut in its top !" But the time has not yet come I am sorry to say, for making a slit 
in the top of the historic old ballot box. 

The softened tints in which we view at this distance the lives of our ancestors, are the 
work of time's mellowing lumd. How much clearer the nobility of their sacrifices for 
those who were to come after them, stxinds out against the background of the retreating 
century. The gi'and roll of its cycles has swept into oblivion all that should be forgotten, 
and left us a jirecious legacy, that time only preserves and hallows, (lod be with you all. 

(Grand-daughter of Joel Hatch.) Eliz.a R. Wmiik.m.\n. 



CENTENNIAL LETTERS. 65 

Cranfori). N, J., Ma)- 25, 1S93. 

Denr Coiisi'/i Rayvwnd: — Your kind letter inclosing invitation and programme of the 
memorial exercises of our own dear old Sherburne reached us last evening, for which 
many thanks. We are glad of the privilege of contributing something toward a mon- 
ument to be erected there in honor of the Fathers, whose memory is precious and whose 
lives are worthy of emulation. I cannot well express my high appreciation of all that you 
have done and are doing to honor our common kinsmen. How I wish I could show 
you how truly I value what you have done for my pleasure in these declining years by 
your earnest work in all these matters. Much regretting that I thall be imable to be pres- 
ent at the Centennial, with a thankful, loving heart I wish you and yours peace. 

Your Kinswoman, 

(Daughter of John Gray, Jr.) D. E. Sackktt. 



Angola, N. Y., June 3d, 1893. 

Dear Cousin: — The invitation to Centennial from you received. Would be very happy 
tf) go if circumstances were such that it were best, but I cannot well leave mother, (the 
widow of the late Irad Raymond and now in her gyth year, formerly of Sherburne,) tor 
any length of time. It would be so nice if she could only go to Sherburne once more, 
and attend the celebration, but her days of enjoyment of this life are passed, and she is 
<inly waiting to be transferred to the other shore in full hope of a glorious immortality. 
Hope you will have a grand time. Yours Truly, 

(Lirand-daughter of Ncwcomb Raymond.) Harriet A. Kinsley. 



DuBUijUE, Iowa, April 22, 1893. 
Dear Cousin: — 

Dear old Sherburne has a warm place in my heart and memory, as in the two years 
1S43 t" '45. I was there living, walking in the foot-prints and having the kindly care and 
association of one of those "Eleven Proprietors" whom you propose to honor — my grand- 
father and namesake, Newcomb Raymond, a grand old Patriot. While living there I 
learned to love its hills and vales, and more sincerely those of our kindred who have gone 
on before, blessed be their memory. ^Vhile the everlasting hills remain silent monuments 
of their pioneer lives and sacrifices, yet it is fitting that a Memorial Stone be set up to 
commemorate in an especial manner their honorable connection with the settlement of 
Sherburne. Sincerely Yours, 

G. N. Raymond. 



North Conway, N. H., June 5, 1S93. 
To Hon. M. D. Raymond, Tarr>-town, N. Y. — 

Miss Helen Sawyer Raymond regrets exceedingly that the recent affliction, in the loss 
of her respected father, the late Honorable Major Curtis Burritt Raymond, prevents her 
from being present at the Centennial Celebration in commemoration of the settlement of 
Sherburne, N. Y., on Wednesday, June 21st, 1S93. 



Madison, O., June 6, 1S93. 

My Dear Mr. Raymond: — I regret to say that it will be impossible for me to attend the 
Sherburne Celebration. I should be delighted to contribute anything to its success, but 
my engagements will not permit. The memory of the brave men and women who laid 
the foundations of this fair land cannot be too often recalled or too much revered. It is 
our inheritance and our example. We should be jiroud that the blood of those who stood 
by this Nation in her birth-throes with their fortunes and their lives, flows in our veins. 
Since we cannot place the tribute of our affection and our praise in the warm clasp of 
living hands, let us carve it upon the enduring granite. 

Hoping that the day may be auspicious, I remain, 

\'ery Truly Yours, 

(Grandson James and Melissa Burritt Raymond.) E. F. Ensign. 



66 CENTENNIAL LETTERS. 

i2(j \V. if)TH St., Erie, Pa.,) 
June 19, 1S93. )" 
Hus. M. 1). Raymond: — 

.1/)' /'<•<!;• Ktiis»hin:—\ consider myself honored by receiving an invitation to be jjres- 
ent at the celebration commemorating the settlement of Sherburne, and in counting 
myself a descendant of some of the ])ioneers who lived there a century ago. I am 
heartily in sympath\- with the sentiment that insjiired those who have arranged this re- 
uni(_)n of the different branches of a widely scattered family, and which will tend to 
cement the bonds of kindred, while honoring an historical anniversiiry. 

I regret that I cannot be present on the occasion, and extend to you all my best wishes 
for a happy day. Very Sincerely, Your Cousin, 

Adklaide Lkk Stanclikke. 
(Grand-daughter of Amanda Gray Lee.) 



359 Prospect Ave., Buffalo, N. Y., May 28, 1S93. 
Mv l^tar Mr. Ravmoiiif: — Your kindness in sending an invitation to attend the Cen- 
tennial Celeliration at Sherburne is greatly appreciated. 1 regret that I cannot be there, 
for I should enjoy the exercises very much, and I shtmld like to see the monument. That 
])leiusure is only deferred, however, for I shall certainly make a pilgrimage to the home of 
my fathers some time. Your Cousin, 

Ada M. Kenvo.s. 
(Great-grand-daughter of Nathaniel and Bethiah Newcomb-Raymond Gray.) 



Westfiki.d, N. v., June 10, 1S93. 

Dear Mr. Raymond: — I thank you for the invitation to be present at the interesting 
ceremonies of the 21st inst., and I wish that I could accept it. The occasion should be a 
memorable one, and I am sure that the people of Sherburne will give such expression to 
their appreciation and gratitude, as will make the day a proud and happy one to all the 
descendants of the pioneers. Sincerely Yours. 

Grand-daughter of Major Joseph Dixon.) Caroline P. Dixon. 



MiNNEAi'ui.is. Minn., Mav 23, 1S93. 
Mr. M. D. Raymond: — 

.S»'.' — 1 am interested to know that the Centennial of Sherburne is to be celebrated 
some time in June, and that a monument is to be dedicated to the early settlers, of whom 
was my grandfather, Joel Hatch, and my great-grandfather, Nathaniel Gray, my father, 
the late Revillo C. Hatch, having been a son of the former. I cannot be there myself, as 
I have been an invalid for several j-ears, but I wish to have a part in that memorial. It 
is rather late I know, but I do hope I may feel I have a share m honoring those men and 
women who first settled in Sherburne. Yours Sincerely, 

Makcia a. Mitchell. 



St. Lol'is, Mo., June 16, 1893. 
M. D. Raymond, Esq., Tarrytown. N. Y. : 

My Dear Kinsman : — I have received the invitation you sent me to attend the first 
settlers' Celebration at Sherburne, N. Y., on the 21st inst., and I will thank you to con- 
vey my acknowledgments to the Committee of Arrangements. I have delayed my reply 
in the hope that I might accept of it, but circumstances over which I have no control 
have compelled me to deny myself the pleasure. The occasion is one I could have 
enjoyed immensely for the reason that it calls to my mind the fact that among the 
early settlers who came from the land of " Steady Habits" was my great-grandfather 
William Gardiner, who was also your great-grandfather, and the remains of both him- 
self and wife lie buried there. Also, his son Daniel Denison Gardiner, who was my 
grandfather, was an early settler there, and his son, Lyman Gardiner, my father, was 
boni there, July 25th, 179S. 

May the skies shine serenely upon the Valley of the Chenango at Sherburne on the day 
of the Celebration, and may the gathered multitude contempUite the scene of a century's 
growth with grateful hearts to Almighty (lod. Sincerely Yours, 

CuRTiss C. Gardiner. 



CENTENNIAL LETTERS. 67 

Bei-videkk, Ii.i... June 14, 1893. 
Hon. M. D. Raymond: — 

Dear Sir : — Yours duly received. I am sorry I cannot attend the Centennial on the 
2ist. My son, John Crocker Foote of this place expects to be present. I feel that all 
descendants of the early settlers of Sherburne should be \ery grateful to you for all your 
interest in this matter, and for your many historical sketches. The labor has not been 
for pay, but without money compensation. It has been a labor of love — love for those 
early Fathers who ever)-\vhere have done so much towards laying the foundations of our 
country on such principles as will tend to jieqjetuate the blessings of constitutional liber- 
ty throught the land. Your sketches have been truthful, — based upon facts, — and we the 
descendants have no reason for being ashamed of the expositions you have made. For 
one I thank you for having put into print the history- of the " Early Settlers." I have pre- 
served all your historical sketches in a scrap book, and this will be ])reserved by others 
who will feel as proud of their ancestors as you have made me feel of mine. 

Again thanking you for the kindly invitation to attend the Centennial, I am 

Most Truly Yoiirs, 

(Grandson of Judge Isaac Foote.) John J. Foote. 



New York, June 20, 1893. 

My Dear Mr. Raymond : — I had hoped to be with you on Wednesday, but much to 
my regret, I shall be unable to do so. Please express my thanks to the Committee for 
their kind invitation. My grandfather, Samuel Foote. was one of the pioneers of Sher- 
burne, and my father, Elial Todd Foote, spent his boj'hood there, so that I feel interested 
in this Centennial. I therefore send greeting in behalf of the descendants of Samuel 
Foote and Sibyl D. Foote, to the good people of Sherburne and those who celebrate the 
day with them. May it be a day of thanksgiving for the blessings of the la.st hundred 
years, and for our Christian ancestry. 

Let eloquence, jjoetry, music and history combine to make the day interesting for 
young and old — " Let joy be unconfined, ' and (confidentially, for the good people of 
SherlBurne,) if the young people want to partake innocently in the enjoyment of an old- 
fashioned counry dance, with their music, let us not bid them nay; and let us "keep up 
with the procession." All honor to the pioneers of Sherburne! and may their virtues be 
perpetuated in their descendants. Yours Truly, 

H(jraceA. Foote. 



Office of Argus &• Radical, (Daily and Weekly,)) 
Beaver, Pa., June 10, 1S93. / 
Dear Friend Raymond; — 

I would like exceedingly to attend Sherburne's Centennial Celebration, and hoped I 
might, but find at last that I shall be unable to do so. I have not seen tlear old Sherburne 
in 35 years, and I know the place is not what it was, but memory still loves to linger in 
that dear spot, the home of my boyhood. The invitation you were kind enough to send 
me was greatly appreciated, and believe me, I am very sorry to have to decline. 
Your old Friend and Companion of Boyhood's Days, 

Smith Curtis. 



Bay City, Mich., June i, 1S93. 
M. D. Ravinond, Esq.: — I should ver\- much like to be present at the Centennial anni- 
versary but business engagements will prevent. 

Very Truly Yours, 
(Grandson of Joel Hatch.) H. H. Hatch. 



Oakland, California, June 12, 1893. 
Mr, M. D. Raymond; — 

I claim the honor of being a "son of Sherburne" though I have never been there in 
my life, and am interested in its Centennial. All honor to its pioneer settlers. 

(Grandson of Ezra Lathrop.) H. D. Lathrop. 



68 CF.XTFNMAI. I.KTTF.RS. 



State ok Nkw Yurk, Exkcutivk Chamber.) 
Albany, June ig. 1S93. > 
G. W. Lathrop, Esq., Chairman Com, 

Sir: — Governor r 
him of the ple;isun 
nienKiraticin of the settlement of Sherburne. 

Th;inking you in his beliaU' for the eourtcsy so extended, I remain 

T. S. Williams, 
Private Sfc'y. 



Esq., Chairman Com,: 

" rei^rets exeeethnjfly that his engagements for June 21st will deprive 
re of attendini; the Celebration to whieh you have invited him in com- 



Yale CoLLECK, June 7, iSt)3. 

Mv Dear Mr. }{oltit-ii:—\ have delayed reply to your invitation, on behalf of the Com- 
mittee, to speak at the evening entertainment on the 21st of June, in hojies of being able 
to accept it, and be with you on that occasion; but as the time draws near I am more and 
more convinced that I ought not to incur the fatigue involved in my going to Sherburne 
at that time. It is one week before Commencement, a busy season for us. My judgment 
is not with my wishes in the matter, and it tells me I ought not to try my strength over- 
much at this time, 

I knew many of the first settlers of Sherburne as old nren when I was a boy, and I 
have very great respect for what they were and what they did. They deserve our admi- . 
ration and unstinted honor. Yours Most Truly, 

Hubert A. Newton. 



PouLTNEV, Vt,, May 29, 1S93. 
Dear Mr. Ra\')iioiid: — Yf>ur kind invitation to be present at the Centennial Celebration 
on June 21st. is received, but my age and feeblenees in my 93d year, is an obstiicle which 
I could not ventiu'e to overcome. My first pastorate was in Sherburne, and from begin- 
ning to end it was to me a very happy one, and I have always hoped a prosperous one to 
the church and acceptable to the people. May the Lord be with you all. 

Yours Tnily, 

I. N. Sl'RAGUE. 



Beloit, Wis., June 2, 1S93. 
Deacon George IV. La//irop:— Thanks for the kind invitation to be present at the Cen- 
tenni;il of the settlement of Sherburne, my dear old native home. Oh, how I wish I 
could. Should like to so much; should expect to see .so many of my old acquaintances, 
whom I shall never see again if not at that time. If I am not there pleiise remember me 
to all. Shall be with you in spirit if not in body. Yours Truly, 

Andrew B.. Knapp. 



Ypsilanti, MiriL, June 17, 1S93. 
Mr. M. D. Raymoii(/:—\ would much like to be with you and others who are expected- 
to meet in Sherburne on Wednesday next to celebrate tlie Centennial of Sherburne's first 
settlement, but circumstances will not permit. I hope you will all have a good time, en- 
joy much, and do honor to the Fathers, who by severe toil, suffering many privations, 
were, with their noble wives, our mothers, laying the foundations of a society that their 
descendants mav well be proud of. \'erv Respectfullv Yours, 

F. K. Rexkorp. 



59 E. 2i.st St., New York, May 30, '93. 
Hon. March's D. Raymond: — 

Dear Sir: — 1 appreciate your remembrance and invitation to the Sherburne Centennial 
and nothing would give me .greater ple;isure. if possible, than to be jirescnt on an occa- 
sion so interesting as connected with the life of my dear old grandfather, to whom I owe 
mider Providence, the happiness of my life, and the place where 1 passed many happy 
days, but 1 fear I cannot. Please communicate my acknowledgment of the invitation to 
the Committee. Yours Trulv, 

(Grandson of Judge John Watts.) I- Wal rs de Puyster. 



SHERBURNE CENTENNIAL. 69 

Among other Centennial communications received were letters 
from President Stryker of Hamilton College, Orrin S. Wofxl, Esq., 
of Staten Island, Rnwland J^. Lacey, Esq., President of the Fair- 
held County Historical Society of Bridgeport, Conn., M. T. L}-nde, 
Escj., of Ciihunbia Heights, Brooklyn, Rev. Dr. R. L. Bachman, ot 
Utica, Rev. Otis A. Dike, of Warsaw, formerly pastor of the 
Baptist Church at Sherljurne, A. G. Nichols, Esq., of Kingston, 
step-grandson of PUeazer Lathrop, Raj'mond C. Gray, I^sq., of 
Covington, K}'., Miss May Davidson, Pllgin, III., Mrs. C. B. Ray- 
mond, Boston, Mass., Hon. Rufus B. Cowing, New Yorl<, T. Yale 
Hatch, Highmore, South Dakota, Farrand Hatch, Sugar Gro\e, 111. 

The following articles ^\'cre placed in a Ixix under the l)ase of 
the Monument : 

List of Subscribens to the Monument Fund, Pictures of Capt. Josiah Lathrop, James 
Raymond, and Newcomb Raymond, (three of the Proprietors,) copies of the Sherburne 
JVf7tis, Tarrytown Argus, Carbondale Leader, Utica Morning Herald, Binghamton 
Repiibliian, Hawaiian Star, Sherburne T raitscript. Western Oracle, (jniblislied at Sher- 
burne Four Corners, 1S04,) the Con^rregatioualist, copy of the Sherburne Congi'egational 
Church Manual, 1893, copy of last Report of Proceedings of the Board of Supervisors 
of Chenango County. 

The following articles were in the Centenni;il exhibit : 

By Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Lathrop : Deacon Melatiah Lathrop's Account Book, date of 
176S; Crayon Portrait of Capt. Josiah Lathrop, photograph of Eleazer Lathrop, Crayon 
of Simeon B. Marsh; copy of Shakspeare 1795, Spectator, 1S14, John Moore's Views of 
Italy, 17S4, Conquest of Canaan, 17S5, Connecticut Evangelical Magazine, 1S02-3; Capt. 
Josiah Lathrop's Conch Shell, 1793, Josiah Lathrop's Tobacco Bo.x, 1793, Josiah Lath- 
rop's Steel Square, 107 years old, Josiah Lathrop's Mahogany Table, no years old, pack- 
age of Deeds dating from 1751 to 1S23, files of the Western Oracle, (Four Corners) 1S04. 

Exhibited by M. D. Raymond: Old Deed from Proprietors to Newcomb Raymond, 
first Ballot Bo.x used in Sherburne, old Bible jjresented by Col. Wra. S. Smith to' Sher- 
burne West Hill Church, School Report for of Winter 1795-6, files of the Ohve Branch 
printed at Norwich, 180S-10, and single copy of same printed on Sherburne West Hill, 
1S06; Portraits of Newcomb Raymond, John Gray, Jr., Joel Hatch, James Raymond, 
Col. Wm. S. Smith, Judge John Watts, Rev. Dr. I N. Sprague, Philander Raymond 
Gray and Family, Melissa Burritt Raymond, Hon. Chas. M. Gray, and others. 

The following were among the Centennial guests present : 

Hon. Joseph Benedict, Utica. S. Comstock and wife, Springfield, Mass. 

Rev. Shubajl Carver, North Bergen. Dr. Elbert M, Somers, Deansville. 

Rev. Lewis Ray Foote, D. D., Brooklyn. Dr. E. M. Somer.s, Jr., Jersey City, N. J. 

Hon. Walstine D. Pudney, Cleveland,'©. Maud E. Somers, Brooklyn. 

Jas. R. Lathrop, wife and daughter, N.Y. L. G. Raymond and wife, Angelica. 

Mr. and Mrs. il. D. Raymond, Tarrytown. Mabel and Cornelia Raymond, " " 

Mrs. J. E. See, son and daughter, " William Butler Newton, Parma. 

Miss Bertha Caqienter, " Albro Newton, Brooklyn. 

Miss Mary Judson, Chicago, 111. Howard D. Newton, Norwich. 

Mr. and Mrs. Edward Purdy, Brooklyn. Julia Carrier, Elmira. 

Stanley Ormsby and wife, Eaton. Wells Burritt Hatch, Syracuse. 

E. Lawrence, and daughter, Elmira. Mrs. Rev. Dr. D. K. Bartlett, Albany. 
John C. Foote, Belvidere. 111. Henry Hopson, L^tica. 

F. C. Hyatt and wife, Perryville. Hon. Albert F. Gladding, Norwich. 



70 CENTKNNIAI. MdMMKNT. 

Tlu' ix'port of rcccij)ts and ilisljursemcnts of the IMoiuinK-nt 
Fund is or will be of historie interest. The list of names of the 
subscribers to tliis fund there i)resenled may well be entitled a 
roll of honor, for it is sim]ily their due to say, tiiat if these 
loyal sons anil daughters of the Fathers had not resi>onded to 
the call made upon them for that pur])ose, no Monument would 
have been erected, the Centennial ^\-ollid not have l)eeu celebrated, 
and conseqvK-ntly tliis Centennial souvenir \vould not have been 
issueil. This is a self-e\idi.'nt proposition, but ma\' well be stated 
here. It will be noticetl, and doubtless with some surprise, that 
several of the names which a])pear upon the Monument are not 
re])resented on the sul)scription list by any of their descendants 
It is but simple justice to sa}-, that in no case has it been from a 
lack of invitation to contribute something toward that object, 
and ill sonic instances thesi- in\'itations were several times re- 
peati'd, without results. It shovild pi'rliaps be here stated that 
the surplus remaining f)ver from the Monument Fund has not 
been sufficient to ])roduce this volume, and the publisher of it 
will ha\-e to look to the disposal of a fe^v e.xtra copies issued, to 
make u]> the deficiency. This much in justice to himself. 

The Motiument is placed on the grounds of the Congregational 
Church, ^\"hich comprise the south-east corner at the crossing of 
the two principal streets of the \'illage. a handsome green, on 
which the beautiful Monument in meinor\- of the Union soldiers 
t)f Sherburne also stands. The Centennial Monviment is-massive 
rather than oniamental, and was intended to be typical of the 
times, and the men in whose honor it was erected. It is of the 
best Quincy granite, the bases of rough rock' work with beveled 
edges. The disc is also rustic ^vith polished panels bearing the 
inscri])tic)ns. The dimcnsiotis are : First base, 4 feet 6 inches 
square, 2 feet rise; second base, 3 feet 6 inches square, i foot 2 
inches rise; disc, 3 feet square, 4 feet 10 inches high, making the 
total height 8 feet. The weight is about 8 tons. 

The photgra])hic representations of the Monument so clearly 
present the names and inscriptions thereon that they need 
not be repeated here. It suffices to say in conclusion, that the 
work has elicited uni\'ersal encomiums. 



MOXTMEXT FUXD ACCOUXT. "Jl 

RECKIPTS. 

J. I). Rexford,of Janes\-iUe, AVis., for self and other descendants of Cornelius Clark, $200 00 
Mrs. G. W. Lathrop. of Sherburne, N. Y., a great-grand-daughter of " 12 50 

Geo. W. Lathrop, of Sherburne, a grandson of Josiah Lathrop, - - 12 50 

Mrs. Rev. D. K. Bartlett, of Albany, N. Y., a descendant of Josiah Lathrop, - 10 00 
James R. Lathrop, of New York, a grandson of Eleazer Lathrop, - - 25 00 

Mrs. Chas. H. Nichols, of Washington, D. C, a grand-daughter of Eleazer Lathrop, 25 00 
Tracy Bros., of Mansfield, Ohio, descendants of " 25 00 

Chas. Henry Lathrop, of Sherburne, grandson of John Lathrop. - - 10 00 

Gardiner Lathrop, of Kansas City, " " - - - 25 00 

William W. Lathrop, of Scranton, Pa., grandson of Ezra Lathrop, - - 5 00 

Mrs. Curtis Burritt Raymond, of Boston, for his g^randfather, James Raymond. 50 00 
Miss Helen Sawyer Raj-mond, of Boston, great-grand-daughter of " ' 5000 

E. F. Ensign, of Madison. Ohio, a grandson of ■' 15 00 

'"" "" ---- - comb Raymond, 100 00 

10 00 
10 00 
10 00 
I 00 
I 00 
I 00 
I 00 
I 00 



M. D. Raymond, of Tarrj-town, N. Y., a grandson of New 
Geo. N. Ra\Tnond, of Dubuque, Iowa, " 

Mrs. G.B.R'., and Chas. W. Ra\-mond, Elgin, 111., " 
Fulton Gilford, of Mendota, III. 
LaJIont Gardiner Raymond, Angelica, N. Y., 
Wm. H. Raymond, Springfield, Ohio, (by a brother)" 
Hervev Raymond, late of " 

Corneha Raymond " " " " grand-daughter 

Angeline Raymond Peet, late of " " " 

Mrs. Harriet Raymond Kinsley of Angola, N. Y., " " " i^ 

Mrs. Diantha E. Sackett, of Cranford, N. J., daughter of John Gray, Tr., - 30 00 

Elizabeth Gray, " great-grand-daughter " ' " - 37 50 

John Frederick Gra}-, of New York, great-grand.son " - 37 50 

John B. Gray, of New York, grandson " - 2500 

Philander Raymond Gray, of EUzabeth, N. J., great-grandson of Nathaniel Gray, 10 00 
Adelaide and Caroline Kenyon, of Buffalo, great-grand-daughters " 500 

Mrs. Marcia Mitchell, of Minneapohs, Minn., " ' " 1000 

as grand-daughter of Joel Hatch, 1000 

Herschel H. Hatch, of Bav Citv, Mich., grandson of " 2=; 00 

Wells B. Hatch, of Si,Tacu'se, ' " "5 

Mrs. Minnie Carrier, of Elmira, grand-daughter of " 2 



5 00 
00 



Miss Julia Carrier, 

Rev. Dr. R. L. Bachman, of Utica, for his late beloved wife. May Rose Bachman 

a great-great-grand-daughter of Nathaniel and Deborah Lathrop Gray, ' 2 00 

Timothy Yale Hatch, Highmore. South Dakota, grandson of Timothy Hatch 10 00 

FaiTand Hatch, of Sugar Grove, 111., " " jq 

Dr. Jethro Hatch, of iventland, Ind., ■• " 5 

Herbert Dixon, of SrajTna, a grandson of Major Joseph Dixon, - - 5 

Joseph Dixon, .. ' .. .. ' ^^ 

Almenzo K. Dixon, of Earlville, " •• - - 5 00 

00 

00 

I 00 



00 



10 00 
00 
00 



Caroline P. Dixon, of Westfield, grand-daughter of 

Frank Avery, Smyrna, a grandson of ■ • . . . % 

Alida C. Avery, M'. D., San Jcse, Cal., gr-daughter '■ - - - i „„ 

^Irs. F. A. Hyatt, of Perr>-ville, N. Y., grand-daughter of lohn Hibbard, - 30 00 

John J. Foote, of Belvidere, 111., grandson of Isaac Foote,' - - 05 

John Crocker Foote, " great-grandson " - - "5 

Horace A. Foote, New York, grandson of Samuel Foote. 

Maimlle Austin, Washington, D. C, grandson of Nathaniel Austin 

Dr. F. K. Rexford, Ypsilanti, Mich., grandson of loel Rexford 

Joshua Pratt, Sherburne, grandson of Joshua Talcott, Sr - - - 05 00 



00 
00 
20 00 

5 00 
00 



DISBURSEMENTS. 

Paid C. E. Tayntor & Co., New York, for Monument 



L.xtra expenses in connection with same, - - - 35 00 

Paid for illustrating and printing the Centennial Souvenir, - 207 00 



$qS6 



00 



COXCRKC.ATIONAT. CIirRCn. 



\^t\ 



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A 




f J 


ill 




mm 


i 


- - 



Til c 1-" i rst Congregat ion- 
al Church of Sherburne 
was organized July 6th, 
1794, with the I'dllowing 
constituent members: Na- 
thaniel Gray and Bethiah 
Ne^vcomb-Raymonll Gray 
his wife, Elijah Gray and 
Sarah Raymond Gray his 
wife, Abram Raymond and 
1 Betsey Gray Raymond his 
\vife, Tinii )th\- Hatch and 
Ruth Wells Hatch his wife, 
I'disha Gray and Martha 
Patsy) Burritt Gray his 
wife, Josiah Lathrop.Ele- 
azer Lathrop, Mabel Gray 
wife of Ne^\•comb Ray- 
mond, Melissa Burritt wife 
of James Raymond, Ruth Gray wife of Joel Hatch, and Ezra 
Lathrop and Mariam his wife. Nathaniel Gray and Abram Ray- 
mond were chosen Deacons. The Society was incorporated March 
5, 1798, when Eli Marsh, Joel Northrop and Orsamus Holmes 
w^ere elected Trustees. 

For the first few years there \vas no pastor, and only occasional 
preaching when some itinerant Missionary came along. Mr. Hatch 
has given such a grajjhic account of those occasions in his History 
that it is copied herewith: "Their advent would be hailed as an 
event long to be remembered. Messengers would be sent in every 
directiiin, imtil all, howx'ver scattered or renuite, had heard the 
news. Svich ^vas their hungering and thirsting to hear the living 
preacher, that, at the appointed time, the women and th^ aged 
-svould be seen on horseback wending their way among the trees 
of the forest; and pedestrians of both sexes and all ages filling 
up the picture. Their house of worship had no tall spire jjointing 
to heaven, no bell to summon to praver, no ceiled ■walls, nor 
cushions filled with softest down. Its walls were round logs, and 



CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 73 

the ruiif of boards, or perhaps of barlv. Wlien their increasing 
numbers reipiired a more commodious Iniilding, some newly 
erected barn would lie substituted." 

As early as 1798-9, a large school house had been erected at the 
Quarter, on the ^vest sitle of the road running ncjrthward past the 
Newton homestead, near to the bridge over the Handsome Brook, 
and thereafter for several years, the meetings of the church Avere 
ordinarily there held, it being provided with a movable pulpit for 
that purpose. The late Simeon B. Marsh, in a reminiscent article 
by him published, says of that primitive jjeriod : " M}' earliest 
recollections of public \vorship were in that school house, with 
Deacon Gra\- in the jiulpit ; his peculiar tone of voice in reading 
a psalm or h\-mn still sounds in my ears, thoutjh some seventy 
3'ears have since come and gone." 

The following copied from Cornelius Clark's old Field Book, 
date of Xovemljer, 1802, shows that the liuilding of a meeting 
house Avas already planned for, and the site selected: "Survey 
of Meeting House Lands from Nath. Gray and James Elmore: 
Beginning at Robertson's (Noah) corner, thence South 49 degrees 
West 16 rods; thence N. 44 W. 20 rods; thence N. 46 East 16 rods; 
thence South 44 West 21 1-2 rods. Note — From Robertson's cor- 
ner to Jas. Elmore's, 7 rods and 15 links." And that "was the site 
on which it was finallv l.)uilt in the latter part of 1803 or early in 
1804, soon after the effort to unite the two societies on a "common 
centre" had fttiled. Mrs. Amanda Gray Lee says she \vell remem- 
bers its being raised — was present. It ^vas at first a rude affair, 
the seats Ijeing rough, loose Ijoards placed on blocks. Mr. Hatch 
says: "They ^vorshipped in this house nine or ten years before 
it %vas lathed or plastered, or in any measure done off inside. 
Even the pulpit had never seen the smoothing plane, if Ave except 
the top shelf or table and seat. For two or three years it was not 
glazed around the galleries, and for the first one or two "^vinters, 
some c)f the windows were not even hoarded up." It Avas over 
twenty years before stoves were introduced. The removal to its 
present site, in 1810, \vas not a slight task. The deed for the new 
site from Mr. Marsh is dated July 9, 181 1; consideration, $63.75. 
The steeple and vestibule were added in 1821; the bell, 1832. 



co.\( ;k kg ation a i. r i n ■ ki 1 1 . 



A new clivirch, on the 
])ivsent site, ^\■^ls erecte<l 
ill 1S57, the ohl chiiivii 
being sold tf) the Catho- 
lic society. That church 
was burned Sept. 21,1 880 
anil the j^reseiit beautiful 
edifice, most complete in 
all of its appointments, 
and an honorto the town, 
cnmnienced in 1881. was 
dedicated in Feb., 1 883, 
havinj^ been erected at a 
cost of $25,000, of which 
$ 5 ,000 was from a becjuest 
b}- the late Dr. Devil lo 
White. The fine organ, 
which cost $2,500, was a 
present frum ]\Ir. Joshua 
Pratt. The bell was a 
gift fmni Ilciratici \V. .Sanlnrd. while a large memorial window 
represents a special conlril)ution from the Xewton family. 

Nathan Bailey Darrow, who taught the Quarter school 1800-2, 
is said to have been the first regular sermonizer, preaching as he 
<lid from the school house pulpit each recurring Sabbath. On 
Jan. 2, 1803, he was ordained as pastor of the church at Homer. 
Rev. Roger Adams, who was instalknl in August, 1806, was the 
first regular settled pastor. His voice failing, he resigned three 
years afterwards. His sheep mark' appears on the old records 
date of May 27, 1809, showing that in more than one respect he 
was a good shepherd. Rev. Abner Benedict was the ne.xt pastor, 
from August 1811, to 1813; a man of considerable learning and 
abilitv. Rev. John Truair \vas the third pastor, was installed 
July 5th, 181 5. During his ministr\-, which continued live years, 
there ^vere over two hundred additions to the church. Rev. Ly- 
man S. Re.\'loi-(l supplied the pul])it for some time after. Rew 1. N. 
Sprague, was the ne.xt, and one of the mo.-;t belo\-ed of all \\lu) 




COXriREGATinXAI. (lURCH. 75 

ever ministered to that ehureh, a love that was and is most heart- 
ily reciprocated. Quietly spending the evening oi' his days at 
Poultney, Vt., his native place, near the spot -where he ^\•as born, 
no^v in his 93d year, nothing delights him more than to recall 
his pastorate at Sherburne, which he says was among the most 
pleasant of all during his long and active ministry. He Avas in- 
stalled June 8, 1825, and remained until October, 1834. Rev.' 
Henry Snyder was then stated supply for a time. Rev. Geo. E. 
Delevan, 1838-39; proved unsatisfactory and was asked to resign. 
Rev. Luther P. Blodget, an able expounder, 1839-41. Rev. James 
S. Brown. 1842-3; too extreme in his Abolition \-iews to please 
the church. Rev. A. C. Tuttle, 1844-53 ; a devout and worth}- 
man, but rather strong Presbyterian ; the Abolition withdraAval 
occurred during his pastorate, but ■v\-as more than made up by 
additions from the great revival during the winter of 184S-9. 
Rev. Oliver Bronson, of precious memory, 1853. Rev. Archibald 
McDougal, 1854-60. Rev. E.Curtis, 1860-7. . Rev. Samuel Miller, 
1867-74. Rev. James Chambers, 1875-82. Rev. D. \V. Teller, 
1882-88. Rev. \Vm. H. Kelley, 1889-90. Rev. Albert F. Xorcross. 
from March 1st, 1891. 

The folhnving have served the Church as Deacons: Chosen 
1794, Nathaniel Gray, Alirani Raymond; 1803, Timoth}- Hatch ; 
1 8t2, Stephen Northrop; 1816, Calvin Coe; 1821, Stephen Bene- 
dict; 1828, Williams Avery; 1838, Samiiel Thurston; 1846, Zac- 
clijeus Waldo Elmore, John F.Smith, Isaac Andrews, Jr., Andre^v 
B. Knapp; 1850, Charles Benedict; 1865, Simeon B. Marsh, H. T. 
Dunham; 1874, Samuel M. Foote, George W. Lathrop; 1883, Har- 
lan P. Freeman, William H. Miller. 

The recentlv issued Church Manual, gives the total member- 
ship since its organization as 1,288. Among the names so pre- 
sented are many that recall tender and hallowed associations, more 
especially as connected with the old Church, when great congre- 
gations worshipped there, and thetruth was mightily manifest in its 
influence upon the hearts and consciences of men. This Church 
has been a power for good in the commimity all these years, and 
its record for doing and giving is equalled by few. It has given its 
sons and daughters as wqU as its substance. Present members, 226. 



WKsr nil. I. riirKcii. 




THE OLD WEST HILL MEETING HOUSE. 

The ;il)ii\'L' rL--])r(i(hiLti(in of the nhl Meeting House on the West 
Hill, is here jjrcsentetl as of liistoric interest, it having Ijeen the 
first church edifice erected in tlie town, and probably in the 
count}'. It was built in the fall or sununer of 1803, a Society House, 
of smaller dimensions, having previously been erected on a lot 
adjoining. It was remo\-ed to its present site, where it is used 
lor other purposes, in 1847. The Society was organized under 
the title of "The Second Calvinistick Congregational Society of 
Sherburne," at the house of James Guthrie, as the old records 
inform, on "Tuesday ye 25th of November, 1800." On that 
occasion Deacon Abram Raymond and Mr. Joshua Talcott being 
chosen Inspectors, and Orsamus 1 lolmes Clerk, the following 
Trustees of the Society were duly elected: First Class — Elisha 
Gray, James Guthrie; second class — Elijah Se.xton, Josiah Lathrop; 
third class — .-Xbram Raymond, Eli Marsh. 

The old Church on the West Hill was organized, as the records 
also state, " At a meeting of a number of the members of 



WEST HILL CHURCH. "JJ 

the Calvinistick Congregational Societ}- of Sherhnrnc, holden at 
the house of Elisha Gray in s'd Sherburne, the i8th day of Octo- 
ber, 1803," with eleven constituent members, to wit: Isaac F"oote, 
Sedate Foote, Henry Finn, Margaret Finn, David Dixon, Tri]:)hena 
Dixon, Sarah Talcott, Elizabeth Merrill, Elijah Sexton, Ebenezer 
Baker, and Gambo Dasset; the latter a colored man, a native of 
Gambia, Africa. There were soon a large number of additions, 
and the ne^v Church and Societ}' went prosperously forward. 
Abram Raymond ^\'as the first Deacon, and afterwards Isaac 
P'oote, Jr., and Joseph Adams were also chosen to that office- 
On the (lav of the organization, a call was tendered Rev. Joshua 
Knight, who had jjreviously preached there on several occasions. 
He was ordained and installed as pastor of that Church at a 
Council convened at the residence of Major Joseph Dixon on the 
29th of February, 1804, remaining in that cr)nnectit)n for nearl}' 
twenty years, emd until he ^vas deposed from the ministry after 
a long and remarkable trial based upon his expressed purpose tf) 
marry his step-daughter, which he did about a 3'ear afterwards, 
on the 22tl of October, 1824, both he and his ^^■ife being imme- 
diately thereafter excommunicated by the Church. 

Mrs. Ruth Knight, whose untimely death, January 22, 1823, was 
followed by all this difficulty, \vas an estimable woman, daughter 
of Judge Hezekiah Talcott of Herkimer, and afterwards of the 
West Hill, had previously been the wife of Peleg Kenyon, of New- 
])ort, who had left her and her infant daughter heirs to his estate. 

At a meeting of the Church hehl on the 2d of Januar\', 1824, 
Isaac Foote, Sr., Moderator, and Isaac Foote, Jr., Clerk, it was 
voted to give Rev. Samuel Manning a call, which he accepted, re- 
maining as pastor until December, 1827, \vhen he removed to Flv 
Creek, Otsego Count}-. He was afterwards for a time pastor of 
the Congregational Church at Smyrna. There was no settled 
pastor afterwards, but the pulpit was filled with supplies more 
or less regular, until the final disbanding of the church Januarj^ 
20th, 1834, a large number having previously withdrawn, some 
to unite with the Church organized at Smyrna, June 26, 1824, and 
others to join the First Congregational Church of Sherburne. So 
briefl^' the storv of the old Church on the West Hill is here told. 



WKST Hll.I, ClirRCII. 




Tin-: CHL'RCH-VARD GRi';i-:.\. 



The passing traveller of a summer's day may note the beauty of 
the far reaehing vista, and his eye may rest for a moment with 
])leasiiral)le satisfaction on the attractivi.' siid where the "fore- 
fathers of the hamlet" sleep, as he passes o\cr the summit of 
Sherburne West Hill, but if he should perehanee be one of those 
who three score years and more ago were familiar witli that 
place, and had returned after so long an absence to re-visit the 
scenes of other days, he would tarry there by the wayside, and 
look long and lovingh^ upon the spot once so familiar to him and 
still so dear to him. He would miss the old Meeting House, in 
olden times the most eonspictious feature in the landscape, but 
there is still the church yard green, and God's acre just beyond, 
where sleep the beloved dead. 

No ^vonder such a \vavfarer is lost in reverie, in the dream- 
land of long ago ; no wonder it all rises in review before him. 



WF.ST HILL CHURCH. 79 

and tliat he peoples the living present ^\'ith the forms of the 
forgotten past. In fancy he is carried back to the da}"S of his 
youth, and every bright prospect that then allured him, ever}' 
emotion that mo\'ed him, every hope that lighted up his life no^v 
returns to him. 

Perhaps he recalls when the old, then the new Meeting House, 
^vas erected. Perhaps he saw its foundations laid, the super- 
structure rearetl, and ^vatched its completion. Perhaps he had 
often mingled in the congregation that there -worshipped ; had 
joined in their devotions, and in their songs of praise. He recalls 
the austerity of their religious life, its simplicit}' as Avell as its 
severitv. He remembers the dignity of the Fathers, their Puritanic 
punctiliousness, their unflinching courage, their unyiehling faith; 
ho\v everv levity ^vas hushed in the shadows that fell on the 
Meeting House green. 

But our lone traveller is scarcely thinking of this, though all 
unconsciously it ma_y pass in revic^v. He is rather perhaps in 
imagination beholding some fair face and form that had to him 
the fascinating grace of a pure and loving girlhood, iind perhaps 
he remembers hf)w his heart beat faster at the sight of her, even 
in the staid Meeting House congregation. It ^vas a' real sentiment, 
a pretty picture of the long ago, and he loves to recall the tender 
memory on this summer's day. 

Perhaps the forms of a father and a mother, a brother or a 
sister, rise before him, once so dear and precious, Avho Avere 
carried from that church to yonder burial place, Avere bedewed 
in tears the bright green turf rests above them. Perhaps he re- 
members how he there for the first time stood up in the presence 
of the great congregation and gave his affirmation of the Christian 
Faith, as he looked up to a nearer Heaven. 

All these thoughts, and many others may have recurred to him, 
as to another, for to none ^vhose ancestors ^vorsllipped there, and 
^vhose dust reposes there, can that ever be common ground. It 
has been to them consecrated by the most sacred associations, 
and must forever remain a place of holy and tender memories. 
And so the wayfarer dreams of forgotten loves and unrecorded 
historv. 



8o 



WEST 1111. 1, L 111 Ri 11. 



Under the care of the West Hill Cemetery Associatii>n, which 
has succeeded the Conj^regational Society organization, this has 
been made a beautiful rural cemetery, of rare attractiveness. 
The old Hur\'ing; Ground was originally a gift to the Society from 
Justus Bosch Smith, who, together with his brother, Col. Win. S. 
Smith, the original ]iro]irietor of Sherburne, Irom the Slate, and 
another brother, and their motlier, and a ne|)he\v of the Clarkson 
famih' of New Yoi'lv, are buried thei-e. That ])ortion of the plot 
h'ing on the south side of the Quarter Line, \\'hich passes through 
it, and called the Church Green, but which is now a part of the 
Cemeterv, was purchaseil 1)\- tile Society from IClisha Gray. 

On this and succeeiling pages, is presented a full list of the 
original members of the Society, and of the Church, from the 
time of its organization until its dissolution, together with the 
baptised children of the Church, all I'mm the original records: 



MEMBERS OK THE SOCIETY. 



Iiaac Footc, 
John Gray, 
.loseph Simous, 
Isaac Foote, jr., 
Amasa Foote. 
LebheuR Hunt. 
AardU Hnt<-liiu.son, 
Noali Hiitfliinsou, 
Abd Hutohiuson, 
Thiima-4 Vosc. 
Samuel Foote, 
James Sears, 
A^JoUos Alleu, 
William Collins, 
Elijah Sexton, 
Joseph Dixon, 
Elisha Gray, 
Newcomb llaymouil, 
Abram Itaymond. 
James Havmond, 
Timothy Hatch, 
John Gray, jr.. 



Adams, Joseph 
Adams, Hiram 
Adams. Isaae 
Adams, llaiy 
Allen, Marseiia, 
Allen, Ruth, 
Allen, Lydia, 
Allen, Harriet G. 
Babcock, Harriet 
Babeoek, Mary 
Babcoek. I'olly 
Baker. F.benezer 
Brown, Amanda 
Brown, James 
Brown, Hannah 



Xathauiel Gray, jr., 
Elijah Gray, 
Eleazer Latbrop, 
Isaac Kaymond, 
Joshua Talcott, jr., 
David Bal<er, 
Daniel D. (iardiner, 
Ali'xiuuler McCulloch. 
Moses lbi])luns, 
Joshua I'latt. Sr., 
Joshua Tratt. jr., 
Henry Gardiner, 
David Dixon, 

I Gerrit Lansing, jr., 
Elkanah Sjiencer, 

' John Percival, jr., 
Samuel Guthrie, 
-Toel Thompson, 
Roswell Harrison, 

*Perrv Carver, 
Daniel West, 
Eli Marsh, 



William Ladd. 
Sti'phen I'ooper, 
Asa Cnopi'r, jr., 
Elias Ladd, 
Joshua Talcott. 
James Guthrie, jr., 
Joseph Billings, 
Joseph Collins, 
Samuel Hall. 
Moses Hall, 
Luki> Hall. 
Noah Wood. 
Obadiah Sjpencer, jr. 
Edward Ivibbee, 
Daniel Hebard, 
Sanuiel Thompson, 
Andrew Bates, 
Benjamin Guthrie, 
James Guthrie, 
John Guthrie, 
Elijah Foster, 
1 Asa Northrup, 



MEMBERS OK THE CHURCH. 



Bidwcll. Mary 
Bates, .\ndrew 
Bates. Itleula 
lieut, liflieeea, 
Benton, .\iina 
Beekwith. Sylvanus 
Burns, William 
Bush, Cena 
Barlow, Betsey 
Case, Russell 
Case, Roxey 
Case, Roger 
Case, Mary 
Case. ,Tane 
Castle, Catharine 



[ Catlin, Warren 

Catlin, Mrs. 

Carver, Perry, 

Carver, Keziah Warner 

Carver, Samuel 

Carver, Barsheba 

Carvc^r, Orriuda 

Carver. Harriet 

( 'haiiman, John 

Chapman. Chas 

Chaimian. ^Irs. 

Collins. .Joseph 

Collins. .Joseph W 
I Collins, Betsey 

Collins, Eunieb 



W. 



Ephraim Whitney, 
Or.samus Holmes, 
\mos Cole. 
Jesse Hutchinson, 
.\llen Hammond, 
Selah Picket, 
Elijah Long. 
Obadiah Hamugtou, 
Phin>as Graves, 
.Tosepli I'.i'nton, 
Nathanii'l l.oomis, 
■lesse Chapman. 
Gambo Dasset, 
Stephen Parker, 
Ebene/.er Baker, 
William St. John, 
James Brown, 
Theophiliis Robinson, 
W^illiam Brown, 
Gidecm Rudd. 
Israel Farrell. 



Collins, Grace (Mrs. 

Gardiner Kenyon,) 
Cook, Louisa 
Cole, Amos 
Cole, Mrs. 
Cole, Widow 
Cole, Louisa 
Cole, Lucy 
Cole, Miriam 
Cowls, Clarissa 
Cooper. Sally 
( 'rew. Sarah 
Dasset. (rambo 
Dixon, J(tseph 
Dixon, Mercy Raymond 



WEST HILL CHURCH. 



Dixon, Rnth 

Dixou, Hamiah 

Dixon, Willistou 

Dixou, Jliltiiu 

Dixon, Daviil 

Dixon, Triphcua 

Dixon, Lydia 

Dixon, Archibald 

Dixon, Betbiah 

Dix, Jobn 

Eblred, Kmiben 

FaiTiunton, James 

FaiTfll, Israel 

Farrell, Mrs. Peggy 

Fiiirfll, Laura 

Farrell, Aurelia 

Farrell. Aurora 

Farrell, Phila 

Farrell, Seniantba 

Farrell, FeKgy 

Farrell. .\nianda 

Finn, Henry 

Finn. Margaret 

Fox, Laura 

Fox, Allen 
Fox, Polly 
Fox. Rculieu 
Fuote. Isaac 
I'oote, Isaac jr , 
Foote, Samuel 
Foote, Sibbel 
Foote, Sedate 
Foote, Asabel 
Foote, Harriet 
Foote, Mary 
Foote, Sally 
Foote, Henry 
Foote, Harriet 
Foote, Amasa 
Foote, Hiram 
Gardiner, Henry 
Gardiner, Eutb Percival 
Gardiner, Widow Esther 
Gardiner, Sarah 
Gardiner, Fidelia 
Gaylord, Julia 
GiRord, Asu 
Giiiord, Dinah 
Gifford, Jas. T, 
GWord, Experience 
Gifinrd, Susan 
Gitl.ird, Mrs. Lucv 
Gillct, lietsey 
Gillet, Wealthy 
Gray, Elisha 
Gray, Martha Bun-itt 
Gray, Nathaniel jr., 
Guthrie, John 
Guthrie, Sally I 

Guthrie, Elaie 
Guthrie, Clarissa 
Guthrie, Susan 
Guthrie, Milan 
Hatch, Philo 
Hatch, Wells 
Hat^h, Polly 
Haninmnil, George 
Hanininnd, Mrs. 
Hammond, Lucina- 
Hammond, Chester 



' Hammond, Emma S. 

Hammond, Fanny 

Hammond, Anna M. 

Hammond, George G. 

Hammond, Charles G. 
' Hammond, Harriet 

Hall Keubv 

Hall, Percis 

Hall, Anna 

Hall, Clarissa 

Haight. .John 

Hauiy, Widow 

Hauly, Esther 

narrower, Susan 

Heacock, Lydia 

Hopkins, Diantha 

Ho])kius, Amanda 



Merrill, Elizabeth 
.\Ierrill, Flavia 
! Miller, Polly 
Mudge, Isaac 
Mudge, Charlotte 
Mimn, John 
Ormsby, Hannah Ray- 
mond 
Omisby, Margaret 
Otis, Charles 
Otis, Elizab.'th 
Partridge, James 
Payne, Kufus .Jr., 
Payne, Semantha 
Parker, Anna | 

Parker, Isaac ! 

Parker, Eunice 



Hibbard. Betbiah Gray Parsons, Mrs. John 



Hunt, Lid^eus 
Hunt, Mrs, 
Hunt Warren 
Hunt, Joseph 
Hunt, Sarah, 
Hubbard, Demas 

Hubbard, Fanny 

Hutchins(.>n, Hannah 

Hutchinson, Semantha 

Hvde. Cluulotte 

Hyde. Grace 

Ingram, Isaac J. 

Ingram, Mrs. 

Johnson, Miles 

Johnson, Wni. Sr. 

Johnson, Mrs. 

.Johnson, Caleb 

Jones, Caroline 

Jones, .Joanna 

J^tnes, Densy 

Jones, Rhoda 
I Johnson, Wm. Jr. 

Judd, Leonard 

Kellogg, Sally 

Kenyon, Polly Knight 

Kenyon, Gardiner J. 

Kingman, Horiel 

Kinslev, Mrs. Abiel 

Knight, Mrs. Ruthe 

Knight, .Joshua G. 

Knight, Hi'zekiah G. 

Knight. I'.uthc A. 

Ladd, Lovina 

Lathrop, Lewis 

Lathrop. Betsey 

Lathrop, Mai ilia 

Lathrop, Sarah 

Lathrop, .\my 

Leonard, Timothy 

Leonard, .\senath 
Long, Avis 
Long, Esther 
Lord, Russell 
Lord, Mrs. 
Lord, Alfred 
Lord, Jerusha 
Lynde, Harriet 
Manning, Betsev 
McCullocb, Sally 
JlcCulIoch, Lydia 
Mc('ulloch, Cynthia 
MeCuUoch, Temperance 



Parsons, Oren 

l^age, George 

jPage, Ruth 

iPage, Thankful 

Page, Ruth Almira 
iPage, lebabod 

Pettis, Elisha 

Pettis, Deborah 

Pendfield, Delia 

Pease, George 

Pease, Hester 

Pease, Clarissa 

Pease, Louisa 

Pease, Warner 

Percival, John 

Percival, Ruth Crocker 

Percival, Nabby 

Percival, Lucinda 

Percival, Samuel 

Percival, John Jr., 
'Percival, Montgomery 

Percival. Eunice 

Percival, Almena 

Plumb, Nancy 

Pi irter, Aaron 

I'urdy, Jeremiah 
Purdy, Mrs. Laura 
I Raymond, Abram 
Raymond, Betsey Gray 
Raymond, Ncwcomb 
Raymond, Mabel Grav 
Raymond, Melissa Bur- 

ritt 
Raymond, David I 

Raymond, Mercy 
Raymond. .Sally" 
Raymond, Jerusha 
Raymond, Alfred 
Raymond. Aljigail 
Raynionil, Harvey 
Raymond, Irad 
Raymond, Laura 
Raymond, Josiah 
Raymond, Lodema, 
jRexfbrd, Joel 
Rexfonl, Jlrs. Susan 
I!'-xford. Rhoda 
liexford, Wcltbv 
Rexford, Almira 
Rexford, Harriet 
Rexford , Roxana Cratil 

da 



Rexford WelthyLoverna 
Robinson. Mrs.Theoph- 

ibis (.Vnna Carver,) 
Robins, .\niaziah 
Rollins. Davis 
Rouse, Miles 
Kudd, Gideon 
Rudd, Mary 
Sanford, Caridine 
Sanford, Charles 
Sexton, Elijah 
Sexton, Sibbel 
Sexton, Asel 
Sexton, Mrs. 
Sexton, Lovina 
Shattuck, Polly 
Snow, Eber 
Snow, Mrs. 
Southworth. Marv 
Spencer, John T.' 
Spencer, Susannah • 
St. John, William 
St. Johu, Wm. G. 
St. .John, Mrs. 
St. John, Cynthia 
Starr, Abigail 
Stowel, Paul 
Stowel, Caroline 
Stowel, Joseph 
Stowel, Pamelia 
Stowel, Content 
Strew, John 
Strew, Miranda 
Stuart, Anna 
Stuart, Calvin Ashley 
Sutlitf, Polly 
Talcott, Hezekiah 
Talcott, Mrs. 
Talcott, Sarah 
Talcott, Pidlv 
Talcott. Ruth 
Taylor, Josejjh 
; Thompson, Betsey 
Thompson, Wm. M. 
Thomp.son, Catharine 
Thompson, Mary 
Thompson, James 
Thompson, John 
Thompson, Hiram 
Thompson, Elizabeth 
Treadwell, Herman 
Vose, Mercv 
Warner, Samuel 
Warner, Mrs. Irena 
Warner, Betsev 
Warner, Jerusha 
Warner, Irena 
Warner, Hiel 
Waterman, David B. 
Waterman, Jerusha 
^ Webber, Amasa 
I W(^ed, Ann 
Weed. Alvia 
; Weed, Sarah 
Wells, Tirza 
West, Daniel 
West, Mrs, 
I Wood, Ira 
I Wood, Asenath 
i Young, Lois 



82 



TIIK WKST IIII.I. CHURCH. 



April ii), 1804.— IJeiijaniiu Newcoiiili, son of 
DiacLin Abiam Uavniond. 

Mav G.-^Uoaima. daushtpr "f ¥My.<h Si-xtou. 

JulV 1. -IksMi'v, Criaeo. Wani-n. ISIiiiam and 
Mori-!a. L-liililrer' of Mr. .Iiis('i)h Collins. Also 
Noali. .\s(iiatli. .Tulius, Ira and IVrmelia, child- 
ren of Mr. Noah Wood. 

5Iav 211.— Lvdia Foote. 

August 12.-^Luke, IJhouby. Simon and Fanny, 
chililron of Mr. Luko Hall'. Also Euuico and 
Ahiah. childrc^n of Jlr. William Collins. 

Sl■l)tomhl^r l(i.- Jamos and Margaret, childrou 
of Mr. Henrv Finn. 

September in.— I'olly Knight Kenyon. 

Sejit. 23. — Clarissa CUithrie. 

NovemhiTl Calvin, George, Hester, Electa, 

Warren and Clarissa, children of (l(H)rge Pease. 
Same day. Ilarcia and Rachel, children of Wil- 
liam Ladd. 

November 25.— Cynthia, daughter of William 
St. John. 

Dec. 2.— Lue andSaluiou Sauford. the children 
of Andrew Bates. 

Third Sunday in February, 1805.— Alfred, sou 
of Isaac Uavniond. 

.Tulv 2S.— Kuxauna Cratilda. Francis Karthalo. 
anil We.lthy Loverna, children of Simeon Hex- 
ford. .\lso Louis, a son of .Joseph CoUius, and 
Mcrcia, a daughter of Solomcm .Jones. | 

August 4.— Barnabas, son ot Andrew Bates. 

August 25.— Joshua Grier, sou of Ilev. Joshua | 
Knight. 

Seiitiuuberl.— Almena, daughterof John Per- 
civai. 

September 8.— Abigail, Elsie. Fanny. Chancey, 
Phiieiuou, Almond, Lewis, Samuel and Charles, 
children of Benjamin Guthrie. 

Mav 18, 1806.— Betsey Steins, daughterof Wil- 
liam Burns. Also Chloe, daughter ot Samuel 

Foote. 

Mav 25.— .\bigail, daughterof William Collins. 

.lulV 211.— Nathaniel Pardy Allen, son of Wil- 
liam Ladd. 

First Sabbath, September.— Holburn. Cynthia, 
Hannah, Semantha, .\.aron, Lewis, Nelson and 
Laura, children of Aaron Hutchinson. 

'J'hird Sabbath, September.- Justin Foote. 

December 7. Hezekiah Talcott, son of Rev. 
Joshua Knight, and Alanson Carver bou of 
Theophilus Robinson. 

Second Sabbath in Julv, 1807.— Harriet Foote. 

Third Sabbath. October.— Hanford St. John. 

2.Jth October.— At Deacon Raymond's, Harriet 
A., .\iina M.. PoUv M.. Feter. Charles W., and 
William W.. children of Mrs. Chapman. 

Tliird Sabbath in March. 1808.— Mary Adams. 

Fourth Sabbath in March.— Warner, George. 
Nettleton, Sally and Mary, children of Lebeus 
Hunt. 

Seccmd Sabbath, .\pril.— Daniel Spencor Hall. 

Third Sabbath Sept.— Israel 0. Farrell, son of 
Dr. Furrell. 

Third Sabbath. Oct.— Sally I Sarah i and Fidelia 
Gardiner, daughters of Henry Gardiner. 

Fourth Sal)bath,Oct. — Ruthe Amanda Knight 
daughter of Rev. Joshua Knight. 

Third Sunday December. — Roxanny Baxter, 
adopted daughter George Hammond. 

Fust Sunday April. 1809.— Emeline Wood. 

Fourth Sabbath, June.- Charles Foote. 



Second Sabbath .August.- Sidney Thompson 
F'airchild, son ol John Flavel and Flavia Sler- 
rill F'airchild. 

Third SabliathMarch, 1810.— Levi Backus Col- 
lins. 

Fourth Sabbath March. — Lewis Lathrop .St. 
John. 

Second Sabbath April. Thiunas Tracy Pettis. 

Fourth Salibath, May. — Whitman Harvey 
Knight, sou of Rev. Joshua Knight. 

Second Sabliath .Tune. — Luna Cordelia Ray- 
mond daughter of Deacon Abram Raymond. 

Seconil Sabbath .\ugust. — Esther Johnson. 

Third Sabbath October.- Andrew Farrell. 

Fourth Sabliath November.— Andrew Thomp- 
son Goodrich HamiiKJiid. 

Fourth Sabbath January, 1811 Sally Foote. 

Fourth Sabbath .March. — Semantha Aiin Ray- 
mond, daughter of Deaciui Abram Raymond. 

Second Sabbath May. — .Iiihu Henry Gardiner. 

Third Sabbath Juu. -Caroline .Saphronia Wood. 

First ■• Aug. — Li:'wisou Fuirchild. 

Third " '" — Parmelia, Eunice. Jere- 
miah. Kittridge, Caroline. l*aui, .Toseph, and 
.Alexander, cliUdren of Joseph Stowel. 

Second Saliljath Sept — Marianua Foote Adams. 

Fourth " " — Hannah Chajjinan. 

Second " Oct. — William Elijah Ham- 
mond, and William Mudge. 

l^ourth Sabliath Jau'y, 1812.- Shubiel Carver. 

Third " May .\ngeline Gardiner, at 

the home of her father, Henry Gardiner. 

Fourth Sabbath Juue.— Cynthia Stowel. 



Aug. — Eliza .\lmira Carver. 
Oct. — Mary .\nn Farrell. 
Nov. — Asa Gifl'ord Knight. 
Feb'y, 1813.— Clarissa Hatch 



Fourth 

Fourth 

First 

Fourth 
Rayiunud. 

Third Sabbath, April. — Clarissa St. .John. 

First '" May. — Emeliue Mudge. 

Second " .lune.—Sereno Chester Hammoud. 

First ■" July. — Ruth, .\lmira. Harriet, Ca- 

leb Starr, childre'u of George Pease. 

First Sabbath August.— Mary Foote. 

Third ■' Sept. — Erastus Gilbert Hall. 

Fourth " Oct. — Charles Henry I'oote. 

Third " Nov. — Louisa Pettis. 

Fourth " Nov. 1814. — Miriam, Silas Wat- 
tles, Zenath. Lewis, Stephen, Amos. Benjamin 
and Louisa, children of Amos Cole, and George 
Hunt. 

Second Sabliath June. — Matilda Carver. 

Fourth " June. — Caroline Hammond 
and Hannah Stowel. 

First Sabbath July Achsa Farrell. 



I'ourth 
First 

son Fox. 
Fourth 
Fourth 

Hammond 
Fourth 
F'ourth 
Fourth 
Fourth 
First 



V/ 



July. — Miranda F'airchild. 
Sept. — Laura, Sophia, and Edi- 

Nov Joseph H. Kuight. 

May, 1815 Henry Laureus 



July.— Betsey Hartwell Johnson. 
Aug.— Albert Mudge. 
Oct — Louisa Long. 
.\pr. 181B. — Minerva Hammond. 
.\ug. — George Allen Stowel, al- 
so Clarinda St. John. 
Second Sabbath. August.— Miriam Fox. 
Third •■ .Aug.— Amanda Hopkins, Polly 

Sutlift', Miriam Sackett Hatch. 



THE WEST HILL CHURCH. 



8: 



Second Sabbath Se^t.-Williain W.-llin-tou Col- 
1ms also SKlney Tlionipscn. .Nallv Luci-ftia, Em- 
mett Lowell, aufl Cbai-les Levistone, ebildreu of 
ill's. Laura I'urdv. 

Tbird Sabbath Sei)t.-.Joshiia Kuight Ravuiond, 
aud Fauuy Amelia Fi>ote. 

Fourtli Sabbath Sept.-Luay, Ann, Caroline, 
•Tobn. Hiram Plielie. Emeline, Eliza, Adaline, 
fhildrfii cil .bibu (jiitbrif. 

Third Sabbath Oct.— .John Norton Pcrcival 

Fourth '• Oct.— Damiiu Case and Lewis 
Hall Case. 

First - Nov.-Orsou Pardv, Samuel 

I'erL-ival, Louisa Canton, children of Marsena 
Allen, aud also John Spencer's children. 

Third Sabbath March, ltil7.— James Alanson 
Kuight. 

Fourth .Sabbath March.— William Clark Brown. 

Second '■ April.-Salina. Emma, Asa 
Foote, Lucy, Emehne, Aaron, Delos, Sallv Lo- 
vina, children of Aaron Porter. 

Third Sabbath May.— Montgomery Percival's 
cluldren. 

Fourth '■ May.— Eleanor Eunice Hammond.^f 

Fourth " June — Isaac Foote. 

riiird " .July.-Sistcr Lncinda Hamniond'si 
children, Mary, Harri-t. Welthv, Wolcott 

Second Sabbath Sept.-Sister Pollv SutlitTs 
children, Hope, Milo, .lulius. Nelson 

Fourth Sabl.alh Sej.t.- .b.seph Hunt's child- ' 
A!r"i'- ^'■■■'''■'■- I{;'.V,V:1. E.lwm. Henry VValbridg.;. 
Mahnda. also William Henry Guthrie. 

Firet Sabbath Oct.— .Sister MercvVose's child- 
ren. Wdliam, Hannah, Henrietta G"orge 

Second Sabbath Oct.— Emily Almira Cole. 
I'^i," II " ■ , Oct— «i«ter Nancy Plumb's 
children, Harriet, Ehza, .Sarah, Ann 

Fourth Sabbath Oct.-Oryille Wells Hatch and 
Eleuor Hatch. 

Fourth Sabbath Noy.-Joseph ClarU Leonard 
and Charles \^ . Hammond. 

Third Sabbath Apr. lsl8.-Addison Raymond 
Porter. 

Fourth " 
Hubbaril Fox. 

Fourth Sabbath May.— Cynthia SutlitT. 

Third ■■ June.— Emeline Mah-iua Perciyal 

Fourth June.— Deusy Hunt. 

Third ■• Aug.-Erastus Strong Foote, and 
Cii-( irge Mudge Page. 
Stmy.'l'"'^ '"^"'''Jath Oct.-Seraantha Content 

Oct.— Leander Mur'ge. 
Noy.— Rnth Allen, David Vose 
Febr-y INlll.-Elizabeth Adams 



Third Sabbath April.— Laura Fo.\ 
Second ;■ May.-Laura Ann Porter 

■{"!"-■•— James Herv;.v Alien 
T, . T, ■'"'y — Keuben Eldred's r-loirl 
ren: Rosma, Russell, Rosella, Rosamond, liit 

motf S^l'l^^tli J"ly-Samuel John Mills Ham- 

Am:;rhR:^b!^:^'^"«'"*-«*'^«"'^ins son of 

Third Sabbath Sept.-Emma H. Lord 
Gitt'oi"u;uthrie " -J""*^ ^'^^"'"nil James 

First Sabbath gct.-Wells Hatch's children. 
^VuJJ.Wanl.|l^h;ft^^-"■■schilaren: 

Ihud Sabbath Nov.-Martha Foote. 



Third 
Fourth 
mond. 
Second 



April, lS21.-Abraham Mudge. 
June.-Henrietta Candis Ham- 



Third 
Fourth 



July.-Almis Hyde Pereival. 
.■lug — .A niou Putnam Strew. 
^""— Elisha Warner Carver. 

Inrd^abl^thS-pt.-BetseyFooll.- 
.1 Sabbath Jan.. l.S22.-Charles Thon 



'-third 

Fourth 

First 

F'ourth 

Fifth 

■I'hird ■ 

First 

Fourth 

Second 



Sept ■■>8_F1 *"'."' -i^eivis natcn 

Apr.-Amanda Matilda Hatch.and ' Lym'an S.Re.xtbr'rAri'p":™,^;™/;';:', 



ii.>,. iTf .^"•;;"^--' loomiisou. 
.(laj .-Maria Woodbii.lg,. Lord 
July.-Lelos Prisbrev Le„uard 
Sept.-Louisa Almira Itexford. 

— Huldah Fo.x. 
,." —Betsey Hamnumd. 

m'.', v'Tsv?*'"u "'""^t'' J Hammond. 
Tn ./ ' ''^--^--Harriet Amelia Porter. 

Ji h-^ 1'V '■ '"? ^"?"»"'« Thompson. 
Julv .—Philo Lewis Hatch. 

by Rev. 
.Knight. 



Third 
Fourth 
Fourth 
Johnson. 
Third 
Third 
Second 
Fourth 
Fourth 
Fifth 



Apr.— Justus Moorhouae Carver 
iMay —Edward Foote. 
■Tune.— Eunice Lucinda Knight. 
Aug — James Thompson Leonard 
Nov — Elizabeth Foote. 

o„ 1 h" IV JJo^'— Laura Loiusa Chapman 

aud Henry W. Hammond. 
Fourth Sabbath Jan., 182(l.-,So])hia Buckley 

First.- '■ March.-Timothy Hammond, 
at the house ot George Hammond. 

Second Sabbath April.-Children of Hannah 
Thompsim: Sylvester. Sarah. Ford, Henry 
Alexander, Libbie and James Randolph 



DiA:^-,^iV?^^;r"^"''^'^'^'-i-^.'^"^erof 
oi';ie;.i:^m^/^S^^j:--Manning,daughter 

gUU:;;!|?bf|^!:S----- 
Ap;i3.-wiiii^j;^s^^^:?::-"""'"^-"- 

Nov •>7~?o?n-!r''";'-''" ?°" «f I™<lKaymond. 

of wi;/: ind ^'m^^rtcSi!'' ""' '*"""' '^^'"'-" 

May 7 — Lorin Ccdlius, son of Gardiner Keu 
■ Thb',1 S^l't'";,' '^''S''*"^ °t Willis on Dixon 
Rev Sa,u,t 'm'' J'""---Caroline Matilda, dau. 
nev. tiamuel Manning, George Portr^- a„/i <■",. 
thia and Eliza, chikh^.'n c'f kaac J * Li'.aam ^ 

April l.-Ruth, daughter of Alfred aud™arah 

July".' W™""'{'' "'"l-,^ F''"tilla Thomprm 
Juij to. 1.S2SI.— Amau.la Jlelvina Buel. 




FAMILY SKKTfUES. 

Al.FKKl) RaVMi i\l), the Slll)ject i)f 

this sketch, was born in Sherburne, 
Nov. 4th, 1798, the son of Xewcoml) 
ami Mabel Gray Raymond, he beint; 
one of a family of three daughters 
and five sons, of whom Harvey, ^vho 
was unmarried, Sarah, who married 
Aaron Porter, Jerusha, who married 
Philo Hatch, Augustine, who married 
Nancy Crary Williams, Laura, who 
married James T. Gifford, and Geo. 
]]. Ra\-m(>nd, ^\ilcl married Catharine 
Sherwood, and allerwards Mary A. Coles Weston, all removed to 
Elgin, 111., aiding in the founding of that city. The other brother, 
Irad, who married Caroline Jones, remo\-ed to Evans, X. Y. 
Alfred Raymond united Avith the Church on the West Hill, the 
first Sabbath in June, i8i5, and he \vas for some time Chorister 
ui that Church. Afterwards, in 1828, he withdrew, and joined 
the First Congregational Church of Sherlnirne, of which he con- 
tinued a member during the remainder of his lite. In his early 
manhood he taught school several winters, and with a good tle- 
gree of success. He had marked literary taste, ■w^as fond of music, 
a lover of nature and of art, was possessed of fine feeling, and 
many engaging manly qualities. He held the offices of Town School 
Commissioner, and Justice of the Peace, for one term each; ^vas 
an earnest patriot, a Whig, a Republican, and an iipright, honor- 
ed citizen. Alfred Raymond married Sarah Gardiner, daughter of 
Henry Gardiner of Sherburne, and grand-daughter of William 
and Esther Denison Gardiner of the descendants of Lieut. Lion 
Gardiner of Gardiner's Island, on the 13th of Aju-il, i826,b-\- ^vhom 
were eleven children, viz: Ruth and William H., of Springfield, O.; 
Angeline, dec'd; Marcius Denison, of Tarr3-town, N. Y.; Edgar and 
Edwin, t\vin brothers, dec'd ; Alfred Gray, of Sherburne ; Sarah 
Cornelia and Hervey, dec'd ; Lamont Gardiner Raxinond, nf An- 
gelica, N. Y., and Amelia Newton Wells of Clinton, N. Y. Sarah 
Gardiner Raymond died Feb. 6, 1849, and he married second, the 
widow Nancy Crandall Purdy. He died at Sherburne, Dec. 3, 1S80. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 




Hon. Chas. 'SI. Gray, whose pic- 
ture is here presented, was a good 
representative of the Gray family, 
so numerous and prominent in the 
earlv davs of Slierburne. He was 
born June i 3, 1807, the son of Alfred 
Gray, who had a store on the now 
Upham corner, and a grandson of 
John Gray, Sr., whose primitive log 
house stood near by. He went to 
Chicago in 1833, engaging in its 
activities. In 1S54 he was Mayor of 
that city, and continued an honored citizen until his death in 1885. 

The Grays of Sherburne were all of the families of John, Sr., 
and Nathaniel. John had John, Jr., who had John F., Alfred W., 
Patrick \V., Nathaniel, Rev. Blackleach Burritt, and daughter Di- 
antha. Nathaniel, called •' Elder Gray," \\-ho had among other 
children Rev. Calvin Gray; Anna who married Wm. Rynex. Al- 
fred, who was the father of Hon. Chas. M., and Capt. Geo. M., of 
Chicago, and several daughters. E(h\'ard, who married the daugh- 
ter of Elder John Mudge, was a blacksmith, and removed to Gen- 
esee County 1826. Reuben, who was Captain of the Sherburne 
Conipan}', war of 1812. John Gray, Sr., died at Sherfnirne, 1S22. 

Nathaniel Gra^^ the elder brother of John, was born in Leba- 
non, Conn., Mar. 17, 1736, his mother and his grandmother both 
being of the Hibbards of Windham County. By his first marriage, 
with Deborah Lathrop, he had Elijah, who married Sarai Ray- 
mond, and had son Nathaniel, died aged 22; Amanda, who was 
born at Florida, N. Y., Nov. 23, and still survives; Persia who 
married Mr. Powell, Marilla, Juliet ^vho married Eber Ke)-es, and 
Joseph Gray. Elisha Gray son of Nathaniel had Melissa, and 
Alanson, who removed to Kentucky, was twice married, and left 
numerous descendants, John T., the celebrated bridge builder, and 
Philander Ra}'mond Gra\-, of Elizabeth, N. J., being of his sons. 
Ruth, daughter of Nr.thaniel and Deborah Gray married Joel Hatch. 
Bv Nathaniel Gray's second marriage w^as a daughter Bethia, 
^vllo married Daniel Hibbard. Nathaniel Gray died June 24, 1810. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 




Till'; I.atlircips wlici A\-(,Tc of the 
pioneers of Sher1)urne, were of the 
descendants of Rev. John Lnthrop, 
the noted dissenter, earlv of the 
Massaeluisetts Cohln^•, and sons of 
Deacon Mehitiah Latliroj) and I\Iere\" 
Hatch his wife, wlio ^\-as jjrominent 
in Kent, Conn., at Do\'er Plains, and 
Canaan, N. Y., where he was mem- 
ber f)f the Committee of Public Safe- 
ty during the Revolution, and there 
died SejJt. 5, 1787, aged 73 years. 
Josiah Lathrop, born 1757, married Rachel Perry and had Zil- 
pha; Lewis, who married Marilla Marsh and had John Milton 
who died while a student at Hamilton College, 1837, Harriet A., 
^^•hll married Nelson Brow'n and had daughter Ellen L., now Mrs. 
Rev. D. K. Bartlett of Albany, Cornelia, -who married Seneca B. 
Rexford, and George W., who married Mary E. Havely, and re- 
sides at Sherburne. Erastus and John Lathrop were sons of Josiah. 
Ezra Lathrop born at Kent, 1751, married Mariam Thurston; 
lived in the north-east part of Sherburne; had Salmon ^vho mar- 
ried Aurelia Noble, and removed to Carbondale, Pa.; Betsey, M^ho 
married Stephen Northrt)p; PlJeazer, who graduated at Andover 
Theo. Seminary, died at Port Gibson, Miss., 1832; other children. 
John Lathrop married Prudence Hatch; lived at the Quarter; 
had John Hiram, who graduated at Yale, 18 19, and became em- 
inent for his learning; Marcus, ^\'llo married Amanda Ht)]jkins 
and removed to Clinton, had son Col. \Vm. H., killed in the war for 
the Union; Charles H., son of John, born 181 1, married Louisa 
Newton, and had son Charles Henry \\-ho lives in Sherlnirne. 

Eleazer, born 1766, married Eunice Nichols and had son Alvan 
born at Sherburne Jan. 6, 1800, whose picture is at the head of 
this sketch. Was a teacher and Professor and a cultured gentle- 
man. He married Caroline daughter of Phinehas Allen of Pitts- 
field, Mass., and had Charlotte E., Sarah M., and Charles R., Su])t. 
Roosevelt Hospital New York. Diantha, daughter oi ICleazer, 
married Judge Tracy of Honesdale, Pa. Hollister, son of Eleazer. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 



" 




■1^^^ 



Capt. William Newtox was one 
of the strongest personalities in the 
tt)wn of Sherburne for a period of 
fifty vears and more. He was born 
in Cdlchester, Conn., Oct. 15, 1786, 
son of Ashael Newton, who ^vas 
a soldier of the Revolution. He 
came to Sherburne to live as early 
as 181 1, having previously marrietl 
Lois Butler, a daughter of Deacon 
Richard Butler, of Wethersfield, 
Conn., where she \vas born Dec. 12, 
1790; a woman possessed of rare qualities, a strong, well bal- 
anced character. Mr. Newton built a mill and engaged in the 
manufacture of ^voolen goods, but being twice burned out he 
turned lii.s attention to the business of contracting on the canals 
then in process of building, in which he was very successful, 
investing the proceeds in a large farm at the Quarter known as 
the Newton homestead, and where they continued to reside the 
remainder of their days. Their children were as follows : 

William Butler, born 181 1, resides at Parma, N. Y. ; Louisa, 
the widow of Chas. A. Lathrop, resides Avith her son Chas. Hen- 
ry Lathrop, at Sherburne; Lucinda, married first, Ira Williams, 
and had daughter Maria, married 2d, David C. Buel, dec'd; War- 
ren Newton, law^-er and banker, died at Norwich, Dec, 1891; 
Maria, born 1820, died 1836; Amelia Mercy, married Rev. Chas. 
Little in Septemljer 1847, ^^'ent as a Missionary- to Madura, India, 
where she died July 18, 1848; Isaac S. Newton, graduate of Yale, 
able lawyer, dec'd ; Lucius, a respected citizen of Sherburne, 
resides on the homestead; Hubei't A., graduate of Yale, and since 
1855 Professor of Mathematics in that noted Universit.v; Albro J. 
Newton, a prominent citizen of Brooklyn ; Homer G. Newton, 
graduate of Yale, studied Medicine, Surgeon in the war for the 
Lhiion ; resides in Sherburne. 

William Newton, one of seven brothers, was the father of seven 
sons : A remarkable family. Capt. Newton died Aug. 3, 1879, 
aged 93 years. Mrs. Newton died Feb. 6, 1885, aged 95 years. 



FAMILY SKKTCIIKS. 




JosHL'A Pratt is xhv most con- 
s])iciunis mcinher of a family long 
notcil in Sherburne for its promi- 
nence in business and financial af- 
fairs. In fact, may well be entitled 
the foremost native born citizen of 
the town noT.v residing there. He is 
tlu- third Joshua in successive gen- 
erations, his fatlu-r and grainl lather 
havingeacli of ihcin borne thatname. 
Joshua, Sr., came to Sherlmrne from 
Spencerto^vn, Columbia Co., having 
j)revitnisly resick'd in C(.)nnecticut, jirobaljh- at Kent. Me look up 
a farm on the road to Earlville, opposite the Ladd place so called, 
and his son Joshua, Jr., who had been a school teacher on the 
frontiers, ami \\-ho had married Jemima, daughter of Joshua Tal- 
cott, Sr., of the West Hill, i8o2, also for a time lived there. Josiiua, 
Sr., died Jan. 2, 1821, aged 87, and his gra\c is on the West Hill, 
he and his family having lieen identified with the church there. 
Joshua, Jr., removed to Sherburne village, and was for man\- 
years engaged in business on the site of the present Bank build- 
ing, also farming and other outside operations, raising a large 
family, including Caroline, widow of Dr. White, nf)^\• in her 90th 
year. Julia .-\nn, married Mr. Kerslnnv, Adaline, marriecl Milton 
Sutliff, Joshua, (3), Talcott, married Carcjline Timnicliff, and re- 
sides on larm west of the river, formerly his father's, Walstein, 
Eiisha, who removed to Iowa, Charles, and Mary Eliza. 

Joshua I'ratl (} ) whose jMjrtrait ap])ears herewith, born Oct. 18, 
1810, married first, Rebecca N. T'ratt, who left a daughter, deceas- 
ed; married second, Anna, daughter of Joel Pratt, Jr., and grand 
daughter of Capt. Joel, brother of Joshua Pratt, Sr., her mother, 
Hannah Hull Pratt, having been the daughter of Hannah Hopkins 
and Asher Bull, and grand-daughter of Capt. Consider Hopkins of 
Hartford, Conn. By this marriage are surviving, Grace, the wife 
of Dr. Homer G. Newton, and Carrie Pi'att. Mc'rcliant and banker 
for sixty years and more, Mr. Pratt still holds on the even tenor 
of his way. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 




Dr. Devii.i.o White was a son 
of Sherburne whn spent his whole 
life in the place of his nativity, and 
from early manhood up to his 
over four score vears, he was one 
of the nif)St potent individual forces 
in that community. For not only 
as a ])h\"sician diil he hold first 
j)lace against all rivals in all the 
region about, but his strong per- 
sonality asserted itself continually 
in the field of [icilities and finance. 
He was a unique character, a sui generis, almost unconsciously 
exerting a persistent, controlling power among men. Certainly 
no one ever wielded greater influence in the town of Sherburne 
for so long a period as did Dr. Devillo White. 

His grandfather, William White, who was an ofificer in the 
Revolution, was one of the " Vermont Sufferers," New^ York State 
refugees, who ^vere awarded lands in Jericho, near present Bain- 
bridge. His grandmother, Eunice Rogers, was a descendant of 
the noted Dissenter John Rogers who was burned at the stake. 
His father, Dr. Asa White, had married Sally Corbin. and came 
on to Sherburne in 1798. Lived for a time on the Otto Reese place, 
then on the cross roads near the upper river bridge, then remov- 
ed to present Sherburne village and erected a residence and inn 
on the south-east corner, site of the Soldier's Monument after- 
wards erected by his son, Dr. Devillo White, who was born Feb. 
II, 1801, and married Caroline Pratt, eldest daughter of Joshua 
Pratt, Sr., in 1824, soon after the completion of his studies. 

Dr. Asa White, ^vhile engaged in looking after lands in which 
he was interestetl in the far west, and whither he had driven with 
his own outfit, perished in a snow storm on one of the prairies of 
Illinois, Dec. i8th, 1819, in his 48th year. Dr. Devillo took up his 
father's practice as soon as he was able, and his skill and energy 
carried him successfully forward. The Doctor riding rapidly past 
in his old one-horse shay, all unconscious of everything around 
him, will long remain a picturesque picture. He died May 10, 1882. 



l-AMII.V SKKICIIKS. 




Hon. JosKi'ii Hkxedkt is a pic- 
tiires(|vie charactt-T, ami has been 
identified witli Slicrbiirne for more 
liian llircc-quarters of a ccntiir\-. 
Horn in the town of BedlOrd, 
Westcliester Count}-, A])ril I I, l8oi, 
he is the tliird sun dl Deacon 
Stejjhen Benedict wlio was after- 
wards for so many years a promi- 
nent citizen of Sherburne. He is 
connected through a h)nt;- line of 
ancestry with tlie ancient and hon- 
oral)le family of Benedicts, who were the descendants of Deacon 
Thomas Benedict of Nottingham, England and Norwalk, Conn., 
his grandfather having been Col. Joseph Benedict of tiie Revnln- 
tion. 

He came to Sherburne \\"ith his father's family in the fall of 
1805, and his youth and earh' manhood were spent there. He 
married first. Electa, daughter of Jnhn Rees, and second, Mrs. 
Schuyler Hubbard, formerly of Morrisville. He studied law, was 
Town Clerk of Sherburne 1836, Member of Assembly for (Jneida 
County 185 I and 1854, and afterwards candidate for State Senator. 
He is a hii;'hly respected citizen in the city where he has sjjent 
so many years of his useful and honorable life, and in Iiis 93d 
year still retains considerable vigor. 



Noah Allen, Sr., and his sons Noah, Jr., and Apollos, ■who were 
early of Smyrna, having come from Gill, Mass., 1797, were of the 
descendants of Edward Allen, of Ips^vich, 1636. The}' were con- 
nected with the West Hill Chin-ch, an<l prominent there. Deacon 
Marsena Allen, a son of Apollos, lived for a time in Sherl^urne. 
He married Harriet Gates Percival, sister of Mrs. Henry Gardiner 
and daughter of John Percival, who was a native of Sandwich, 
Mass., a soldier of the Revolution from Lee, Berkshire Co., and a 
pioneer in the 8th township. Marsena Allen was tiie father of 
the late Samuel P. Allen, and of Rev. E. P. Allen, for many years 
and still a Missionary at Harj)oot, Turkey. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 




Judge Tilly Ly.vde is one of the 
most interesting characters connec- 
ted with tlie early history of Sher- 
burne, ha^■ing won his w^ay to fame 
and fortime there witlmut the aid 
of anv adventitious circumstances. 
He came to the West Hill as a clerk 
for Garret V. Lansing, the ])it)necr 
merchant there in the latter part of 
1802, and Dec. 24, 1804, he opened 
the little store as sole proprietor, 
pushing forward so rapidly on the 
lines of success that he soon laid the foundations for an ample 
fortune. Also in public life he became prominent, having been 
elected Associate Judge in 1 8 16, and retired from business. In 
1818 he was chosen Member of Assembly; in 1820, State Senator, 
holding that oilfice until 1825; in 1826-8, Member of Assembly; 
in 1827, 1830-31, Supervisor, and in 1832 was candidate for Con- 
gress. From an unknown youth he had in these 3'ears become a 
man of property and dignity, and all at the now rural hamlet of 
Sherburne West Hill. It was a wonderful success. 

In the meantime he had wisely married Miss Eliza Warner, 
though tradition has it he had mourned his first love, a lieautiful 
girl who has slept these many 3'ears beneath the churchyard 
green. Miss Warner had come on from Sunderland, Mass., with 
her kinsfolk, the Carvers, and was engaged in teaching school at 
the Four Corners one summer, where he met her, and her culture 
and grace, and blooming womanhood, captured his heart. They 
were married Sept. loth, 1812, and as the result of that union 
four sons were born to them, three of whom, Wm. Pitt, Watts 
Sherman, and Charles James, graduated at Yale, the former be- 
ing afterwards Attorney General of the Territory of Wisconsin, 
and Member of Congress from that State, his home being at 
Milwaukee. By a sad tragedy, the other two brothers named, 
were lost In' the burning of the steamboat Erk\ on lake Erie, the 
evening of Aug. 9th, 1841. The youngest and only surviving 
son, Martins T. Lynde, resides in Brooklyn, where his father died 



92 KA.Mll.V SKKTCHES. 

in 1857, Ik- liaving removed from Sherburne to Cortland in 1832. 
Mr. M. T. L\-nile has been twice married, having by liis first wife 
Elizabeth Ti-owbridge, a daughter Emily T., his seeond marriage 
being with Martha Ruggles of Poultney, Vermont. 

Charles W., a brother of Judge Lynde, who was associated 
with him in business for a time, married Cynthia, the daughter of 
Judge Thomjjson, then of Sherburne Four Corners, and i-emo\-i.'d 
to Cortland, where he was Surrogate and State Senator. A sister 
Harriet mari-ied Milo Hunt, and a sister Sally married Edmund 
Sanford, and so became the mother of his sons. The Lynde broth- 
ers and sisters \\-ere the childi\'n of John antl Sarah Warner 
L\-nde, and born in HrooK'field, Mass. 



The Hatch faniih- ot Sherburne, \vere of the descendants of 
Thomas Hatch born in l^identuwn, Kent Co., England, 1603, who 
with his wife, Grace Lewis, came to this country with Gov- 
Winthrop in 1630, through Jonathan of Barnstable, Benjamin his 
son, who died at Tolland, Co., 1729, and Timotliy his scm, born 
at Falmoiith, Mass., Oct. ig, 1695, and wlu) removed to Kent, 
Conn., 1739. His son Jethro, called Major Jethro, a Deacdn in 
the Church at Kent for many years, and prominent citizen, had 
among other children, Timothy, burn Dec. 12, 1758, Joel, Aug. 29, 
1764, and Prudence, the youngest daughter, who married John 
Lathrop, one of the pioneers. Joel Hatch married Ruth Gray, 
daughter of Nathaniel, 1787, and was one of the prominent Pro- 
prietors and early settlers of Sherburne. They had daughter 
Deborah, married Rufus Rose, and had Julius Kirk and Mark- 
Rose ; Joel, Jr., married Maloney Kingsley and had Bethuel and 
Mary Eliza, (both of Oregon;) was author of the History of Sher- 
burne; Milo, who married Deborah, youngest daughter of Rev. 
Blackleach Burritt; Theron, unmarried; Julius, graduate Hamil- 
ton College, lecturer on Astronomy, married Harriet Bicknell, 
and was the father of Hon. Herschel H. Hatch of Bay City, Mich.; 
Julia, twin sister of Julius, who married Erastus Newton; Re- 
liance who married Joseph Carrier, and died at Elmira, 1S93; 
RevilloC, twice married, and died at Fayetteville, N. Y., Sept. 30. 
1890; Esther, unmarried. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 93 

Timothy Hatch, son of Major Jethro, liorn at Kent, 1757, mar- 
ried Ruth Wells, sister of Martha Wells, ^v'ife of Rev. Blackleach 
Burritt, and was one of the Proprietors and Pioneers of Sher- 
burne; took up a large farm on the west side of the river and 
resided there witli his son Ehim until his death. Elam married 
Peggy Farrel, daughter of Dr. Israel, and had T. Yale, Israel Bur- 
dette, Farrand, Franklin D., and daughters Margaret and Martha. 
Elam and his wife removed to Sugar Grove, 111., and died there. 
Burdett died at Denver, Yale resides at Highmore, S. D., and Far- 
rand at Sugar Grove. Jethro, son of Deacon Timoth3% had daugh- 
ter Marcelia, and sons Fa^-ette, and Jethro Jr., who is a physician 
and jirominent citizen of Kentland, Ind. Wells Hatch, another 
son, had a large family and removed to Virginia. Ci>I. Lorenzo 
Hatch, son of Timothy, w'as four times married and by the last 
marriage, with MissStebbins, left a son Lorenzo W., who was killed 
during the ^var, in the Shenandoah Valley. 

Sylvanus Hatch, brother of Major Jethro Hatch of Kent, had 
Rev. Solomon, a Baptist Minister, who married Lucy St. John, a 
sister of Wm. St. John of Sherburne, and had Clarissa, who mar- 
ried Stephen Purdy and lived at the F"our Corners, and Philo 
Hatch, Avho married Jerusha Raymond and lived for a time on 
Sherburne West Hill, Avhere Philo L. Hatch, the Centennial Poet, 
was born. Also had a daughter, Amanda Matilda, who married 
Theophilus Renwick, and resides at Sacramento, California. 



Isaac Foote settled in the Sth township on a large farm on the 
road fr(jm Smyrna to Sherburne I<"our Corners 1794-5. He was 
born at Colchester, Conn., Jan'y 4, 1746, and married Mary Kel- 
logg of that place. They had Mary, who married Deacon Joseph 
Adams; Isaac Foote, Jr., who married Harriet Hyde, daughter of 
Gen. Caleb Hyde of Lenox, Mass., and had Justin, Harriet, Charles, 
Henry, Daniel, Elizabeth, and Isaac, Jr., late of Norwich, dec'd; 
Amasa, \vho married Sarah Kellogg; John Foote, ^vho ^vas 
a lawyer, resided at Hamilton, married first Mary B.Johnson, and 
second Mrs. Harriet Bryan, daughter of his uncle, Hon. Ebenezer 
Foote, had son Hon. John J. Foote now- of Belvidere, 111.; and 
Hiram, who married Mary G. Strong. In the early days riding on 



94 FAMILY SKKTCIIES. 

horseback from place to place on his court circuit with his saddle- 
bags containing his docket and law papers, and then in the later 
years with his powdered hair and silver knee buckles, Judge 
Isaac I'^Kite, Avas ahvays a imicpK' and dignified character. 

Samuel I'oote, who was a pioneer in the 8th township and on 
the West Hill, was a Icinsman of Judge Isaac Foote. He was 
from Gill, Mass., and had m;irried Sil)l)il Doolittle, of Hinsdale, 
N. II., and had Elial T., who became a Physician, Senator, Judge 
and Historian, married Anna Cheney, and was the father of Mrs. 
S. C. Crosby of Jamestown, Dr. C. C. Foote, dec'd, and Hor;ice A., 
and James H. Foote, New York. Deacon Samuel also had son 
Erastus, a prominent la^\•yer in Milwaukee; Chas. Doolittle, Obed 
Hyatt, and daughters Lydia, Philena, Mary D., Chloe, and Sedate, 
who married John K. Cowing, and was the mother of Judge Cow- 
ing of New York. Deacon Samuel Foote removed to Phnnouth 
1817, and from there to Jamestown, N. Y. Died 1848. 

Asa Foote, father of Asa of Sherburne, Nathaniel, and other 
sons, Israel Foote, father of Samuel no-w of Sherburne, and Rev. 
Lewis Ray Foote of Brooklvn, are all kindred of Judge Isaac Foote. 



The Rexfiirds of this place are the descendants of Arthur R>,'.\- 
ford, early of Ne^v Haven, Benjamin, who was of Sherburne 1804, 
having been born there Jan. i, 1776. He married Mary, daughter 
of Cornelius Clark, and had Sarah, who married Jacob Havely, 
Emily, avIio married Dr. Hiram Adams, Benjamin F., a prominent 
lawver, ^\•h() married P^h'ira P. Babcock and li\'ed at \iir\vich; sons 
Col. Willie, and Benj. F., of New York. Daniel A., who married 
Fanny M. Lincoln of Troy, father of the Misses Rexford of Sher- 
burne. Mary, and Nelson C, ^vho ^vere unmarried. John De 
Witt, who married Cynthia Maria Babcock, hn\-ver and banker, 
resitles at Janesville, Wis. Seneca Butts, A\-ho married Cornelia 
Lathrop, and died at Sherburne, July 11, 1856. Zina, brother of 
Benjamin, married Lucy C. Rose of Sherburne, and dietl at 
Fabius, 1855. Joel, Jr., li\ed in Smyrna and Sherburne. Joel 
Re.xford, Sr., uncle of the foregoing, was of Smyrna at an early 
day. Had son Simeon, ^vho was the father of Dr. F. K. Rexford 
of Ypsilanti, Mich. Also son Rev. Lyman S. Rexford. 




(KdRMKRI.V lALLKI) SHERBURXE FALLS.) 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 95 

Major Jcisoph Dixon, a i)rominont citizen in the jiioncer days, 
was born in Lebanon, Conn., Sept. 30, 1854, son of Archiljald. 
Afterwards lived at Kent, where he enlisted as a soldier of the 
Re\'olution. Married Mercy Raymond, sister of the Raymond 
brothers, 1782, removed to Manchester, Vt., and from there to 
Sherburne, 1794-5, having purchased the large farm afterwards 
owned by Deacon John F". Smith south of the West Hill. Had 
sons Raymond and Al)ram who graduated at Yale, the former of 
whom studied for the ministry, and the latter was State Senator 
from Chautauqua Co. ; Milton, the father of the Dixon family of 
Smyrna ; Hannah, who married Williams Avery ; Alanson, 
who lived in Elgin, 111., and Williston, killed by an accident. 
1827 Joseph Dixon died May 18, 1839. David Dixon, brother of 
Major Joseph, resided in the north part of the present ^•illage of 
Sherburne. Was a non-commissioned officer in the Revolution, 
and the Badge of Merit was besto-wed upon him for six years 
continuous honorable service. Died in Sherburne, Oct. 14, 1820. 



Deacon Williams Avery, ^\•hose family was prominent in Sher- 
burne, was the son of James and Amanda Lee Avery, who came 
from Durham, Greene Co., prior to 1816, and lived on the cross 
road not far from Kershaw's Mill, on the farm now owned by 
Dennison Pudney. Williams Avery purchased the Gardiner farm 
on the west side of the river, spring of 1837, and there his father 
died 1838. It was long known as the Avery homestead, and a 
generous hospitality was dispensed in that stone mansion, and a 
stalwart family there grew up. Mr. Avery had married Hannah, 
daughter of Major Joseph Dixon, and had Harriet, who married 
Luther Bowen and no'w a widow at Atchison, Kansas; Thomas, 
S., who studied medicine and died suddenly at Rochester, in the 
prime of his splendid manhood, July 19, 1847; George W., who 
studied medicine. Surgeon in the war for the L^nion, died at Nor- 
wich 1888; Orlando W., of Smyrna; Alida C, M. D., of San Jose, 
Cal.; James W., of Memphis, and Joseph D., of Fremont, Ne- 
braska. Deacon Avery was a school teacher in his early days, a 
man of strong characteristics and marked character. Had brother 
Abel, sisters Marv, Amv, and F'annv who married ClarkBurnham. 



96 I'AMii.N' sKi:Tcin:s. 

The GanliiuTs early of Slu-rhurnc W'esl Hill, Capt. Daniel D.. 
and Ileiiry, were sons of William Gardiner who was of the Gar- 
diner's Island family, and born at Groton. Conn., Sept. 5, 1741. 
He niarrii.-d ICsther Denison and removed to Colehester, Conn., 
^\■here most of his ehildren ^vere born. Was a soldier of the 
Rcvohition, and remo\-ed to the Forks, near Earlville, about 1798, 
where he (-lied Mar. 21, 1800. The widow Gardiner died at the 
residenee of lier son Henry at ^\•hat is now the Sidney Sanford 
plaee on the West Hill. William also had sons Josepli and Isaae, 
and daus;hters Esther, who married Capt. Bigelow Waters and 
lived at Earlville; Hannah, who married Hon. John W. Bullcley 
of Lebanon, and Sarah, wlm married first John D. Hlish, and 
second, Sanford Rodgers, anil third, Samuel Burlingham, ^vho 
was the father of Justus Bosch Burlingham of Earlville. Henry 
Gardiner married Ruth Pcrcival. He afterwards purchased the 
James Raymond farm and built the stone house on the ^\'est side 
of i1k' river now owned and oecupietl b\- Chas. Henry Lathrop. 
His L-lde.st (laughter Sarah married Alfred Raymond. Delia 
mari-ied D. A. Denison and still survi\'es at Belvidere, 111., An- 
geline died, unmarried, John H. married Almira, daughter of 
Ephraim Whitne}-, and died at Rochester, 1891. 



The Elmores of Sherburne were of the famih' of Thaddeus 
Elmore who was born at Sharon, Conn., married Elizabeth, the 
daughter of Zaccheus Waldo, and removed about 1783, to Canaan, 
Columbia Co., N. V. Was a descendant of Edward Elmer who 
came from England to Boston 1632. afterwards of Hartford, Conn. 
James Elmore, son of Thaddeus, ^vas of Sherburne as early as 
1798; was the first merchant and Postmaster, living at the pres- 
ent Asa Foote place, and also keeping an Inn there. He married 
Lydia Percival daughter of John, and had David who married 
Charlotte Rose, and Eliza Ann, who married Asher Holmes, son 
of Orsamus. Thaddeus, Jr., was also of Sherburne date of 1801, 
and Zaccheus W., known as Deacon Waldo, one of the first mer- 
chants in Sherburne village; four times married, his first wife, 
Miranda, daughter of Noah Robinson. Elizabeth Elmore, sister of 
Zaccheus, married S. P. Scoville, merchant and P. M. in Sherburne. 



FA^ril.V SKETCHES. 97 

Stephen Pinnh-, whose name appears on the ohl map of the 
Proprietors as the owner of lot No. 23, was born March 3, 175 i, 
the son of Peter and Phebe Carpenter Purdy, who ■were of Green- 
M'ich, Conn., and then of Pittstcnvn, N. Y. Peter was a brotlicr of 
Ebenezer who ^^■as tlie father of the Purdys early of North 
Norwich, and whose son James married Phebe, sister of Stephen, 
l)y which both In-anches of the family were united in the late 
Mrs. Col. Samuel Ha^t^^'ell. Stephen Piirdy had married Mary 
Pellet, daughter of Deacon John Pellet, who with her father's 
family had narro'wiy escapetl from the Indians at the time of the 
terrible Wyoming mas.sacre, they having made their early home 
in that \"alle\-. Mr. Purdv came to Sherburne ^vith his wife and 
two children in 1798, and continued his residence there until his 
death. Mar. 27, 18 12. Was a worthy member of the North Nor- 
Avich Baptist Church. Daughter Anna married Amos Mead and 
removed to the western part of the State; was the mother of an 
interesting family. Stephen Purdy, Jr., married Nancy, daughter of 
Israel Crandall, and had Stephen and Lewis, deceased; Mrs. Juliet 
Pollock, Etlmond, who married Nanc}' Champlain, Permelia \\dio 
married S. W. Lobdell, all of Sherburne, and P^lnora H., who 
married M. D. Raymond and resides at Tarr^'town. 

Jeremiah Purdv, born in Rye, Westchester Co., son of Mon- 
mouth, married Lydia, sister of Judge Joel Thompson, near 
^vhom he lived at Sherburne Four Corners. Was previously for 
a time at Duanesburgh ; was a member of the West Hill Church 
and afterwards prominent as a Methodist. Had Cyrus B., who 
married Laura Yeomans, Jeremiah, Jr., Monmouth, Thomas, and 
\\' illard, who married Lucina Lewis and had Lewis, Cyrus, James 
T., and Edward H., who married first, Ruth E. Gridlev, then her 
sister Harriet, and third, Caroline E., daughter of Israel Foote, 
by whom a son Frederick Purely. Jeremiah died June 16, 1842. 

Josiah Purdy, brother of Jeremiah, kept the first Inn at the 
present Bentley house, Sherl)urne Four Corners, prior to 1799, 
and removed from there to Georgetown. 

Nancy Purdy, daughter of Abner and grand-daughter of Eben- 
ezer, married Frederic Sexton ; ^vas mother of Tama and Frederic. 

All descendants of Francis Punh', earlv of Fairfield, Conn. 



98 



PHYSICIANS OF SlIKRiaKNi;. 



A Dr. Lacy was the first ]3hysician in Sherburne, but only remained a short time. 

Dr. Asa White, was in early days the principal physician, and one of the most skillful in all 
that re.ujion. He was succeeded by his son Devillo who retained the first place during his 
long and useful life, a sketch of whom with portrait is given in another i)lace. 

Dr. Daniel Knight ])ractised there as early as 1S07, and until about 1820 after which he 
removed to North Norwich. 

Dr. Israel Farrell settled on Sherburne West Hill, 1S07, and continued in jiractice until 
his death in 1833. A .son, Andrew, .studied with his father and practised at (Juilford. 

Samuel tJuthrie. born at Brimfield, Mass., 1782, married Sibbel Sexton daughter of 
Elijah Sexton ; was living on Sherburne West Hill in 1804, and probably studied med- 
icine with Dr. Farrell; afterwards resided in the village; he was not only a skillful phy- 
sician, but he invented percussion pills and a lock to explode them ; received serious in- 
jurj- while experimenting with the s;ime. Also an original discoverer of choloroform, for 
which he received a medal from abroad. Removed from Sherburne to Sackett's Harbor 
1S17, where he died Oct. 19, 1S4S. Had a son Alfred born at Sherburne Apr. i, 1S05, 
studied medicine, practised in Chicago, originated the g^eat hydraulic works in that city, 
also the originator of the U. S. Steamboat Inspection laws; died 1SS2. Edwin, another 
son, born at Sherburne Dec. 11, 1806, studied medicine, removed to Iowa, was Captain of 
a Company in the Mexican war, and died at Castle Perote from wound received at Pa.ss 
La Hoya. Guthrie County, Iowa, named in his honor. 

Dr. Huckins Storrs born in Mansfield, Conn., 17S6, wasof Sherburne as earlyasiSiS, and 
was for a time a jxirtner of Dr. Devillo ^V'■hite. Removed to Utica about 1S27, and died at 
Cohimbus, July 21, 1S32. He had married Cornelia Wells, a sister of the first wife of Lyman 
S. Rexford, and she afterwards married Dr. Alfrederick Smith and removed to Little Falls. 
Her daughter, Catharine Storrs, married Robert H. Wells of Albany, and had son Wm. 
Storrs Wells, who is of the firm of Fairbanks & Co., New York. 

Dr. Elijah K. White, who died at Sherburne June 6, 1S43, was a Post Surgeon in the 
Seminole Indian war, and had come on from F"lorida the Fall previous, to visit his brother. 
Dr. Amos Kingsley White, but found on arrival that he had already died, Oct. nth, 1842. 
He therefore took up his brother's practise, but died himself a few months afterwards, as 
already stated. A small monument in the Episcopal Churchyard marks their jointgraves. 
They were gifted men and their early death was seemingly inscrutible. Dr. E. K. White left 
a widow, alady of rare worth, who returned to Canaan, Columbia Co., her early home, and 
successfully engaged in teaching a boarding school there for many years. She died at the 
residence of her only son, Henry K. White, a prominent lawyer at St. Joseph, .Mo.. Jan. 
27, 1S90. Drs. A. K. andE. K. White were the sons of Dr. Vassal White of Berkshire Co., .Mass. 

Dr. E. S. Lyman studied with Dr. Devillo White, from April 18, 1S31, having previously 
married his sister, Mercy White, and after his graduation was a partner with him lor 
several years. Was continuously in practise there for over 50 years, and in fact until his 
death, Nov. 20, 1892, retaining until the last the high confidence of the community. His 
eldest son. Dr. Francis Lyman, died at Washington, D. C, Acting Asst. Surgeon, U. S. 
A., aged 25 years. A young man of high promise. Another son, Henry C. Lyman, M. 
D., has been successfully engaged in practise at Sherburne since 1872. 

Dr. Ira C. Owen was born in the town of Lebanon, Madison County, N. Y., on the 
Sth of April, 1S22. Came to Sherburne in 1S46. Was the pioneer Homoeopathisi there. 
Is still in active and successful practise. 

Drs. Kenyon and Van Wagner, are in present practise at Sherburne. 

Dr. Fort Van Keuren, for several years in practise at Sherburne, died March 27, 1881. 

Dr. Byron Marks was in practise at Sherburne for a considerable period. John Kellogg, 
Aaron Bligh, and Geo. Cleveland, afterwards of Waterville for many years, were at 
Sherburne for short periods. Also, later, Drs. Crandall, Jaynes, Whitney, and Crumb. 

Elial T. Foote, son of Samuel, studied with Dr. Samuel Guthrie at Sherburne, and be- 
came eminent as a physician at Jamestown, N. Y. 

Among those born in Sherburne, or studied there, who have practised medicine else- 
where, are Drs. John F. Gray, the celebrated Homoeopathist late of New York, Alfred 
W. Gray, Patrick W. Gray, (sons of John Gray, Jr.,) Squire White, (br(.)ther of Dr. Asa) 
Thomiis S. Avery, (5eorge W. Avery, Alida C. Avery, now of San Jose, California, Ly- 
man R. Raymtmd, of Oherlin, O., Scoville Lee, Lj-man Rose, Marcius Simons, late of 
Portland, Chautauqua Co., Elbert M. Somers, of Deans\-ille, N. Y., Philo L. Hatch, of 
San Jatinto, Cal., Homer Adams, Noah Weld, John Lynde, F. R. Lyman, a grandson 
of Dr. E. S. Lyman and great-grandson of I>r. Asa White, and Newton Bentley. 



MISCELLANEOUS MEMORAXnA. 99 

Lawyers of Sherburne— Ezra Osbom, Jonathan Pettit, Willard Weldon, Smith M. Pur- 
d)', (County Judge) Hon. Joseph Benedict, Lyman S. Rexford, Benjamin Re.xford. Ira P. 
Barnes, Arba K. Maynard, Roswell ludson, (Judge and Surrogate) Demas Hubbard, 
(Member of Congress,) Frank Hubbard, Isaac Newton, (District Attorney,) Geo. P. Averv! 
David L. FoUett, (Supreme Court Judge,) D. L. Atkyns, Stephen Holden, (A.ssociate 
Judge,) Hon. Chas. A. Fuller. 

College Graduates of Sherburne — Raymond Di.xon, Abram Dixon, Lyman S. Rexford, 
Samuel S. Stebbins, John H. Lathrop, Watts Sherman Lynde, Wm. Pitt Lynde, Charles 
James Lj-nde, Rev. Wm. W. Robinson, Isaac L. Cushman, Isaac S. Newton, Hubert A. 
Newton, Homer G. Newton, Yale; Rev. Ebenzer Raymond, Christopher Columbus Fos- 
ter. Israel Foote, Smith Curtis, LTnion College; Rev. Eleazer Lathrop, Alvan Lathrop, 
Rev. Isaac F. Adams, Julius Hatch, Herschel H. Hatch, Joseph Guthrie, Rev. Lewis r! 
Foote, D. D., Hamilton College; Rev. Shubael Carver, Rev. J. W. Fox, and Rev. Jona- 
than Copeland, at other colleges. 

Among the merchants early of Sherburne were James and Zaccheus W. Elmore, Gar- 
rett V. Lansing, Jr., Tilly and Chas. Lynde, of the West Hill, Alfred Gray, Joshua Pratt, 
Sr., and Elias Babcock; later, Alexander Holmes, Samuel H. Williams, S. P. Scoville h'. 
N. Fargo, Harvey Raymond, Joshua Pratt, Jr., Walstein and Elisha Pratt, William Cook,' 
\\'alter and David Elsbre, Nathaniel Smith, Albert and Egbert Uphani, Edson Whitnev', 
F. B. Coats; in the grocery trade, Whitford &• Fuller; foi-\varders, Joshua Pratt, Daniel 
Seneca B., and Nelson Rexford; jewellers, Peter I. Davison, Chas. Davison; stoves and 
tinware, Nahum Starr. 

The following incident of the early days was related by the late John Foote of Hamilton 
a son of Judge Isaac Foote, in a letter dated Jan'y 21, 1S74: "You remember when 
Utica was a small village, but I remember that a Do'ct. sent me there after medicine when 
I was 10 years, at about 1796. The road was indicated by marked trees and Indian paths, 
6 houses on the wa\-, 40 miles. At what is now LTtica there were then 3 buildings — a log 
tavern, a small frame for a house partly covered, and a drug shop 10 by 12 set on posts 
drove into the quagmire like the foundation of a com house. It was a quagmire all the 
way to what is now N. Hartford, 4 miles, where (only) Judge Sanger lived." 

The following incident as related by the late Dr. Devillo White in a letter to Dr. Elial 
T. Foote dated Feb. 16, 1S74, is worth preserving : "I can recollect when the first store 
was built at the Forks, (Earlville) by Alfred Gray, by being sent with a message to Gray. 
Father told me on the start not to let the grass grow under the horse's feet. At first did 
not know what he meant, but as soon as I did, used the whip, ran the horse at full speed, 
and let Mr. Gray mn him back. The horse was gone 50 minutes ; 10 miles. If I recol- 
lect right, was not over 7 or S years old," Which evidences the Lr's "get there" qualities 
developed at that early age. 

The foUowmg memoranda of the settlers on the West Hill at an early day was made bv 
Erastus Foote, son of Samuel Foote, the first innkeeper on the West Hill : "List of old 
settlers on West Hill, Sherburne, at my earliest recollection: Lansing, merchant; Tilly 
and Chas. W. Lynde his successors ; Mr. Roswell Harrison who built the house after 
wards owned by Tilly Lynde ; Edmund Sanford, hatter; Deacon Joseph Adams, Mr" 
Daniel Hibbard, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Cushman, cabinet maker; Fairchild, printer; Seth P' 
Hart, saddle and harness maker; Frank Smith, left handed fiddler; Deacon Gray, old Mr' 

Snow, Mr. Philo Hatch, who built a house on the corner north of father's. South Mr' 

Johnson, a cooper; Maj. Joseph Dixon; Daniel Hammond, brick maker; Perry Carver' 
Culver and Lyons; on the road west from Maj. Dixon, .Mr. Patrick, Lyons, and Allen' 
Hammond. West— James Thompson, Dr. Farrell, John Lynde read with liim ; Henr\- 
Gardiner, Isaac Gardiner, Calvin and Demas Hubbard, Mr. Gillett, afterwards' Deacon 
Catlin's, Rev. Joshua Knight; across the Creek, old Mr. Wing, and' Charles Brown the 
stuttering man. North— Capt. Daniel D. Gardiner, James Guthrie, afterwards Deacon 
Gilford's; Joseph Guthrie, Deacon McCuUoch, Fred'k Smith, or Gardiner, kept tavern 
just before we cross the bridge; Capt, Ladd, Daniel Calkins, Maj. Waters, 'Mr. Otis, Mr'. 
Graves, Capt. Daniels, Justus B. and James Smith, &c. On the road running northwest 
from Smyrna was Wilcox, Benj. CJuthrie, old Mr. Jenks, Capt. Sexton, Mr. Wood, Capt 
Hall, Dr. Stowell, Mr. Kershaw, the miller. In relation to location of the Asherv you 
are mistaken. I had located in my mind and spoke to Mr. Lynde without telling where 
I located, and he at once named the same place I had located'it. It was down east and 
back of Capt. Gardiner's towards the river just at the edge ot the swamp in the woods." 



L cFC. 



100 



KIMS. 



As a picture of the simplicity that characterized the primitive days in Sherburne, the 
following memoranda copied from the original record in Cornelius Clark's old Field Book 
date of 1/1)5; "Corn luisking, myself and girls, 4 days." Again: "Molly, i day. .Myself 
and Molly 6 days. Molly, i day." And this was the Molly (Mary\ Clark who afterwards 
was the wife of Benjamin Rexford, and so the mother of the noted Rexford family of 
Sherburne. 

The following is from an interview by Judge Stephen Holden with the late Alfred 
Raymond: "In early days Albany was the only market ; no wool to sell before 1S12; 
flax for home use ; rope walk in Sherburne 1S20 ; double drag and patent plows intro- 
duced 1S24-5 ; wlieat jjroduced as high as 50 bus. per acre ; corn do.. So ; potatoes, 400 ; 
9g miles from West Hill to Albany ; potatoes i2Ac., and butter do. War 1S12, wheat sold 
as high as 15 shillings. Cold season iSi()-i7 com almost a total failure, wheat, $2 ; seed 
corn in 1S17 worth $4 to $7 per bushel. Frost 1S16 killed corn in Aug.: snow in June. 
WiUl jiotatoes doubtful." In regard to the cold season of 1S16, the widow of Irad Ray- 
monil now of Angola in her 97th year, says that wheat was worth $2 per bushel, and 
calico $2 per yard that year. 

It \v(nil(l be pleasant to add many another page to the story of 
the earlier anil later days in Slierhtirne ; to ])ortra}' other scenes, 
to record other facts, to add other names to the list that well de- 
serve to be remembered, to present other pictures of dear Slier- 
burne days which will be enshrined in memory, and to delve still 
deeper into the archives of the past ; but these leaflets presented 
may be ])reserved for the benefit of the future historian, who \vill 
elaborate at his pleasure \\'lien another Centennial, or Semi- 
centennial shall have rolled around with its records of the yet 
to be. The poet well sings of Sherburne, and in old "Sherbune's" 
ryhme and rythm and JKinnonies, we will let him sing: 

"While shepherds watched their Hocks by night, 

All seated on the ground. 
The angel of the Lord came down 

And glory shone around." 




ADDENDA. 



Cornelius Clarlc, son of John anJ Anna Clark, was born at 
Freehold, New Jersey, Apr. 9, 1746, John being the son of William 
Clark, who, as his tombstone denotes, was " of the Kingdom of 
Scotland." Cornelius married Mary Grandin, daughter of Daniel 
and Sarah Throck-morton Grandin, her mother being the daughter 
of Job Throckmorton son of John who came from Eversham, 
England, in ship Lion, 1636, and finally settled at what has since 
been called Throg^'s Neck, in Westchester County, N. Y. 

Cornelius Clark' was engaged in the battle of Monmouth, and 
it is said that his wife saw the dramatic meeting of Washington 
and Gen. Lee on that historic field, their then residence being in 
that vicinity. They afterwards removed to Duanesburgh, N. Y., 
and there joine<l tlic Slu'rlnirne coh)ny, of ^\-hich he became an 
important memljer, being the Surveyor of the lands. He ^vas 
awarded lot No. 7, where he continued to reside until his death. 
May 10, I 8 10, his hig house liaving been on the first rise of land 
from the river flats, on the jiresent Andrew Davis farm, the north 
road from Deacon Hatch's then passing that way, also a road 
leading across the river on his land to Abner Calkin's Mill o]3posite. 

Thev had st)n Jnlm who lived near them, also Daniel, and Job ; 
daughter Anna, who married Asa Calkins, Mary, who married 
Benjamin Rexford, Catharine, who married Kies Wilder, Rachel, 
who marrieil Benjamin Kiiigsle\-, and otlier children. Mrs. Clark 
died Aug. 9, 1836, at the Rcvford homestead in Sherl.nirne. 

Cornelius Clark was not only a Surve}'or and a farmer, but ap- 
pears to have also been a coo]:)er and blacksmith. The i'o]]()^^•ing 
tribute is copied from a notice published at the time of his death: 
"For a course of years (.luring his residence here, he was highly 
useful to his fellow citizens as a Surveyor and ScriA-ener. Several 
respectable connexions are left tn lament their priwation." 



102 FAMILY SKETCHES. 

Reuben Davis came from Somers, Conn., to Sherburne, in 
Feb., 1798, and settled on tlie farm afterwards owned by Edgar 
Baldwin. He lived there but a short time, then moved to where 
Jacob Reese now resides, and from there to the eastern part of the 
town on the old turnpike leading to Columbus, and kept an Inn. 
■where the general elections for the town were .sometimes held. 
The farm is now owned by Mrs. Gager. He had married Mehita- 
ble Sexton, a sister of Frederic Sexton, Sr., and thirteen children 
were born to them, ten boys and three girls. Two of the boys 
died young. Seven of the sons lived to be over seventy, and three 
to be over eighty. All were raised in a hotel and not one was 
ever known to be intoxicated or to use tobacco ; all became men 
of some means. Eleven of the children married and had families. 
Henry married a Miss Campbell, moved to Chili, N. Y. Orlando 
married Mrs. Davenport Adsit, spent most of his life in Sherburne, 
but removed to Milo, N. Y., and died there. Horatio moved to 
Chili, N. Y., and there married. Reuben, Jr., married Sarah Ann Lob- 
dell; lived at Sherburne. George married Sarah Ann \Vaterman; 
lived and died at Sherburne; had daughter Abigail, and sons An- 
dre^v and Warren, the former of whom lives on the homestead, 
the old Cornelius Clark farm. Fannie married Deacon Charles 
Benedict ; lived and died in Sherburne. Norman married Eliza- 
beth Campbell; lived and died at Chili. Hiram married first a 
Miss Scott and after her death, Caroline Hart, of Sherburne; 
moved to Chili ^vhere he died. Julia Ann married Israel Farrel, 
Jr.; is living at Washington, D. C. William married Helen Pope; 
lived and died in Sherburne. Mary married Stephen Pope who 
died at Smyrna; she after\v-ard married a Mr. Little and resides 
in California. Reuben Davis, Sr., died May iS, 1844, aged 78. 



Elijah Sexton, brother of Stephen the father of Frederic, was 
from Somers, Conn., and ^vas an early and prominent citizen of 
the 8th to^vnship; Justice of the Peace. He and his wife Sibbel 
were members of the West Hill Churcli ; she died 1818, and he 
married Thankful Spencer. Had Elijah, Jr., John L., Norman, and 
daughter Sibbel who married Dr. Samuel Guthrie. Elijah Sexton 
died March 28, 1839, in his 85th year. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. IO3 

James Raymond, who married Melissa, daughter of Rev. Black- 
leach Burritt, and lived on the west side of the river, had son 
Philander who married Cynthia Rose and had sons Curtis Burritt, 
Marsden, and James, all highly educated, and commissioned offi- 
cers in the war for the Union. Philander had daughter Cynthia, 
who married John T. Gray, grandson of ElishaGray of Sherburne, 
Mary C, wife of Rev. J. P. Preston, and Sidney H. James Ray- 
mond had daughter Celestia wlio married Horace Ensign, and 
lived at Madison, O. Major Curtiss Burritt Raymond was born 
in Sherburne; his later life was spent in Boston where his wido^v, 
Lydia Newell Osgood Raymond and daughter Helen Sawyer Ray- 
mond, reside. 

Deacon Abram Raymond, married Betsey Gray, daughter of 
John Gray, Sr., and had Mercy, David, Rev. Ebenezer, who re- 
moved to Oregon and left descendants there, John, who removed 
to Abingdon, Pa., Abigail, who married Aivin T. Smith and went 
to Oregon as a Missionary to the Indians, 1840; C}'nthia, Lodema, 
Electa A., and Semantha Raymond. 

Isaac Raymond, cousin of Newcomb, James and Abram, was 
of Sherburne 1797, and the original owner of lot No. 19, as per 
Proprietor's Map. He remained there several years and then re- 
moved to Chatham, Columbia County. 

Zaccheus Ra^'mond was living in Sherburne. Road Dist. No. 14, 
1 8 14. Fitch Raymond, son of Joshua of Bedford, N. Y., was the 
owner of the Kershaw Mill for .several years from about 1820. 
His wife Anna Mead died June 1 i, 1820, buried at North Norwich; 
married second. Electa Brown of Sherburne. 

All descendants of Capt. Richard Raymond, of Beverly, Mass. 



Abraham Mudge, Avho \vas of Sherburne, for a fe\v years, and 
removed to Bainbridge, was the son of Abraham, Sr., who had 
married Anna Gi-ay, sister of Nathaniel and John Gray, Sr. His 
son Isaac married Mercy, daughter of Deacon Abram and Betsey 
Gray Raymond, antl li\'ed in Sherburne and Smyrna. Had Wil- 
liam, Albert, Leander, Abraham, and Raymond Mudge. 

Rev. John Mudge the pioneer pastor of the Baptist Church near 
Earlville, was kindred of the above. 



I04 FAMILY SKETCHES. 

John Hibbard. one of the earliest settlers of Sherburne, and the 
original owner of lot No. 14, comprising a large part of the pres- 
ent village of Sherburne, his log house, and afterwards his more 
commodious dwelling house, no^\- somewhat removed and still 
occupied as a residence, having been located not far from Jf)shua 
Pratt's homestead. His marriage with Betsey Sartwell, March 4, 
1795, is .said to have been the first in the township. The bride 
Nvas from Vermont, where she was born May 18, 1773. Was a 
sister-in-law of Orsamus Holmes. They had nine children, among 
whom were Daniel, \vho lived and died in Sherburne, and left 
descendants tiiere, and Almira, who married Josiah Benedict, and 
had Mary Klizabeth, who married Mr. F". A. Hyatt and resides at 
Perryville, Madison Co. John Hibbard ^vas born at Greenwich, 
Conn.. May 18th, 1760, and died at Sherburne, Oct. 17. 1830. 

Daniel Hibbard, brother of John, also born in Greenwich, Conn., 
married at Sherburne, 1796. Bethiah, daughter of Nathaniel and 
Bethiah Newcomb-Raymond-Gray, patriotically born July 4th, 
1776, at Kent, Conn. They lived on Sherburne West Hill for 
several years, where he worked at shoe-making. In 181 1 they 
removed to Sheri<lan, and the History of Chautauqua County says 
he was a man of excellent repute among tiie pioneers of that 
])lace. He died at North Kast. I'a.. 1840, ageil 75. She died at 
Jamestown, N. Y., Oct. 24, 1834. Tliey had son Luther who has 
son Daniel Hibbard at Pomona, Cai.; daughter Laura, wlio had tuti 
sons in the war lor the Union, aiicl Mar>- Hil)bard, born on Sher- 
burne West Hill, July 1, l8o5, who married Capt. Joseph Kenyon, 
whose first wife was Hannah, sister of Demas Hubbartl, Sr., of 
Sherburne, an<l live<l at Jamestown, where he was a prominent 
citi/.en and Postmaster. Removed to BiilTalo 1 864, and tlied there. 
Ha<l Darwin, Caroline S., Horace F., and Mary Adelaide, who, 
with her sister, holds resijonsil)le jjosition in t)ne of the public 
schools of Buffalo. Mrs. Kenyon still survives. Of her mother, 
it is saiil that La P'avette remarked. nvIkmi she was presenteil to 
him during his visit to this c<unitry in 1824, "She is the most 
beautiful woman that 1 have seen in America!" Perhaps he re- 
membered that her half-brother. Newcomb Raymond, had served 
under him with iionor at Brandvwine and \'orkto\vn I 



KAMILY SKETCHES. lOj 

Uriel Lee, burn in Warren. Litchfield Co.. Conn., came to Sher- 
burne -with his family 1802. Removed to Sheridan, Chautauqua 
Co., and was among the pioneers there, 1807. His son Joel. \vho 
was a commissioned officer in the war of 1812. married Amanda 
Gray, daughter of Elijah, one of the Sherburne Proprietors, 1814, 
and had Wellington Lee. who invented the Steam Fire Engine, 
and raised the sunken ships at Sevastopol. He married Harriet 
E. Gray, daughter of Dr. Patrick W., and grand-daughter of John 
Grav, Jr., one of the Proprietors ; a son Wellington. Joel and 
Amanda Gray Lee also had Daniel Uriel, who was an officer in 
the war for the L'^nion, and his son. T. C. Lee, enlisting at 15, 
won his Lieutenancy on the field of Gettysburg. A daughter 
Caroline celebrated her Golden Wedding with her husban>l, Mar- 
tin Strong, at Waterford, Pa.. Oct. 4th. 1892. They have an in- 
teresting daughter. Mrs. Adelaide Lee Stancliff. at Erie. Pa. Elias 
Baudinot Lee. son of Joel ami Amanda Gray Lee. \N'as mortally 
wounded in command of his Regt.. the 2iith Pennsylvania Vols., 
as Major, in the final assault at Petersl>urg, Va., April 2. 1865. 
Sarah A., married James M. Porter, and died at Aiken, S. C. 1S70. 
Helen, married James. G. E. Earned, deceased, and she now resides 
at Cedar Mountain. North Carolina, with her venerable mother, 
who accom[ilished her Centennial on the 231.1 of Nov., 1S92, and 
still survives. loel Lee died 18^6. 



Lorain Curtis was at Sherburne early as 1799: wife. Elizabeth 
Burget ; her mother, Elizabeth Rees, sister of Jacob and William 
Rees, pioneers in Sherburne. Was a miller; for a time kept an 
Inn on the now Talcott Pratt place near the river bridge; then 
was at the old St. John Grist Mill near the tannery; had son John, 
and by second marriage, Dwight. John Curtis learned tanner's 
trade with Hubbard brothers. West Hill ; then lived in Sherburne ; 
engaged in shoe-making, firm of Curtis & Whitford; removed to 
west side of the river in house adjoining his tannery; went to 
California 1850, and died soon after arrival. Married Elsie Jones, 
1824: had Elizabeth, (married Lemuel Robinson^i Delos. George, 
Helen, JMaria, Densie. Pllsie, Theodore, and Smith Curtis, publisher 
Ar^'-us & Radii-a/. at Beaver, Pa., the onlv survivor of the family. 



I06 IN MF.MnRlAM. 

Lieut. Lorenzo W. Hatch, son of Col. Lorenzo, and grandson of Timothy Hatch, 
enHsted in 3d N. Y. Artillery. At that time he was at school at Cazenovia. Two of his 
comrades on their way to enlist called at his room to say good bye. He got aboard the 
stage to accompany them a little way, but becoming interested in their talk went on with 
them to Auburn, and himself joined the Company. He served his term of three years, 
much of the time in the Dept. of North Carolina under Gens. Burnside and Foster. 
Was engaged in at least ten battles, prominent among them being those at the capture of 
Ft. Macon and of Newbern in .March and April 1S62, and of Kingston, Whitehall and 
Goldsboro in the December following. He was wounded but once in these engagements 
receiving an injury just below the knee. At the end of his term of service he returned 
home for a short time but soon re-enlisted- this time in the 15th N. Y. Cavalry. Being 
wounded in the mouth shortly after, he received a furlough and remained at home a short 
time, but reading the need of more men he hastened back to the field though he could 
not eat solid food and his furlough had not yet expired. He received a commissi<m as 
Lieutenant, serving at that time in Western Virgmia, near Cumberland, Md. Was sent 
out in command of a recounoitering party at Green Spring Run, Va.: was surrounded and 
surprised by the enemy on the night of Nov. 11, 1S64. When he saw his situation he 
fought bravely, and having empted his revolver with deadly effect, drew his sword, crj-- 
ing, " Never surrender, boys, never surrender'" At that instant he was shot through his 
heart. His age was about 22 years. His body was brought to Sherburne and buried at 
the Quarter Cemetery. 

IsR.^EL O. FooTE, born in Sherburne, Nov. 9, 1S34, entered Hamilton College fall of 
1S54, remained till 1S57, and graduated from Union 1S5S. Went .south and taught in Miss., 
and Texas until sunimer of 1S60. Taught in Sherburne following winter, when lie com- 
menced studying law in MorrisWUe. But with his sense of duty and love of country, he 
could not be deaf to that country's call for men. Enlisting in Co. C. 6ist Regt. N Y. 
Vol. as a ]3rivate, he was promoted to a Sergeantey. Was in the campaig^ns of 1S62 about 
Richmond. In August following he was sent to the general hospital in Phila., very much 
reduced in health. It was not until late in the fall that he had so far recovered as to re- 
turn to the field. At this time he writes : "I feel as though my dut)- leads me again to 
the army: though I may not be able to endure the exposure, still it must be tried." He 
retiuMied to his Regt. though his strength was not sufficient to endure the hard service of 
the field, and when the fatal advance was made up the heights of Fredericksburg on the 
13th of Dec, the weak but faithful soldier pressed forward in the charge and fell before 
that hail of death, and his grave is among the unknown and unnumbered on that disas- 
trous field. 

George R. Miller, was born at Sherburne, Jan. 2, 1S41. Enlisted in the 114th Regt. N. 
Y. v., Aug. 4, 1S62, and was killed at the battle of Oquequan Creek, near Winchester, 
Va., Sept. 19, 1S64, and buried by his comrades on the battle field. George was the first 
martyr to fall from the 114th Regiment on that day. He was struck by a shell and killed 
instantly while marching in line of battle. He was a good soldier, loved and respected 
by all who knew him ; a devout Christian. 

EiH-.AR J. WiLLEV, born Jan. S, 1836, at Hamilton, enlisted Sept. 2d, iSfji, in Co. C, 
6ist Regt. N. Y. v.; was fatally w-ounded at Fair Oaks, Va., June i, 1S62: died at White 
House Landing, June 7, and buried there. He wrote to his mother, "I have a severe 
shot in my side, but the Dr. says not necessarily fatal. A wound in my left arm. slight, 
(lood-bye to you all, and if God so orders that we meet no more on earth. Father, Mother, 
Sisters, Brothers— may we all meet in Heaven. From your loving Edgar." 

Capt. Isaac Plumb, of the6ist N. Y. V., one of the Boys in Blue of whom Sherburne 
wa.s justly proud, died as the result of a wound received at,Cold Harbor. 

Lieut. Frank Garland, of the 6ist N. Y. V., gallant and patriotic, gave his life for his 
country in the great struggle on the historic field of Gettysbxirg. 

Jacob Havely bravely fell in the terrible onslaught at Port Hudson, and Sanford Brooks 
was among the slain for Freedom and Union at Fair Oaks. 

Much of the above memoranda is from a memorial address by Dr. Homer G. Newton 
at the Congregational Clnirch, Sherburne, Feb. 8, 1SS3. 



MISCELLAXEOUS MEMORANDA. IO7 

The following is a partial list of the Revolutionary Soldiers who were of Sherburne : 
Major Joseph Dixon, Josiah Lathrop, Orsamus Holmes, Isaac Foote, 

David Dixon, Ezra l.athrop. Joel Northrop, Joseph Simons, 

Newcomb Raymond, Timothy Hatch, \VilUam Gardiner, Elijah Sexton, 

John Gray, Joel Hatch, Augustine Odell, John Percival, 

John Gray, Jr., James Curtiss, Richard Odell, Thos. Higgins, 

Joel Thompson, Andrew Stafford, Amos Cole, Joseph Guthrie, 

Asa White, Samuel Stebbins, Josepli Rose, Jesse Wheeler, 

Bigelow Waters, Aaron .Mills, Isaac Sheldon, Timothy Dunn, 

Jeremiah Purdy, Nathaniel Austin, John Holmes, Timothy Stanly. 

The following incident copied from Hatch's History evidences how party spirit some- 
times stirred up the Fathers. This occurred about the time of the war of 1S12: New- 
ccmb Raymond having business at the County seat, on his return called on Col. Mead, 
who kept a pubUc house near North Norwich bridge. They got into a political discus- 
sion upon certain measures then before the country. Col. Mead defended and Mr. Ray- 
mond opposed them. Mr. Mead growing warm, e.xclaimed that all who were opposed were 
"Tories." This declaration roused the lion. "Col. Mead ! when you were in your cradle, 
I was following General Washington, leaving my foot-prints marked on the snow and ice 
in blood ! To be called a Tory by you, is too much for flesh and blood to bear. Nothing 
but your being in your own house saves you from a thrashing ; and if you say it again, 
that shan't save you !" The fire and bearing of this man, who was among those who, at 
midnight, under Generals Hamilton and LaFayette entered the first redoubt taken from 
Cornwailis at Yorktown, bayonet in hand, without flint in his musket, awed the Colonel, 
and he said no more. 

Of the tragedies of Sherburne may be noted the accidental drowning of John l.athrop 
son of Josiah. in the river, iSiS; death of WilUston Dixon by being run over by a team in 
front of his father's house in June, 1S27; the accidental shooting of the lad Philander 
Sheldon, by Mr. P. C. Elmendorf, while hunting pigeons in the woods on the west part 
of Newcomb Raymond's farm, 1S42 ; and the murderous drowning of a little boy in the 
canal at Sherburne at an earlier date. A reward of $250 was offered in the Olive Branch, 
date of July 21, 1S09, for the arrest of the person or persons who were guilty of snatching 
the bodv of Mr. George Riddel from his grave near the West Hill Meeting House. The 
offer of this reward was made by Jonathan. Jonathan, Jr., Daniel and Geo. Pettit. 

The following incident is related of Dr. Asa White in Hatch's History of Sherburne : 
"In the early days of his ride he was called to visit a patient residing about ten miles dis- 
tant, and his path led him through a dense forest for about ten miles. Midway some 
pioneer had commenced the erection of a log house, so far completed as to be ready to re- 
ceive the roof, and a narrow doorway had been cut through on one side. Receiving a 
bushel of corn as compensation for his services, the Doctor set out on his return. Night 
overtook him soon after he entered tlie woods, when he was seen and followed by a pacTc 
of hungry wolves. Hurrying forward he led his horse into the half finished house, took 
a seat with his bag directly over the doorway, and defended himself and horse by swing- 
ing a long pole backwards and forwards until the dawn of day — the wolves most of the 
time in close proximity and determined to force their way into the enclosure." 

The p.ipulation of the township of Sherburne by the census of iSgo was 2,847; of the 
village, included in the foregoing, 960. Assessed valuation of the township, iSg2, was 
$i.535.<J77; of the village, $319,387.50. The assessment roll for 1801, the earliest known 
to be in existence, will be seen on the succeeding page. The number of acres assessed to 
non-residents in the qth township, (Sherburne,) 1S04, was only 3,516, while in the 8th 
townshi]5, (Smyrna,) there were i2,Soo; showdng how much more rapidly the former was 
settled than the latter. 

An old map date of 1809, of the Chenango Turnpike, extending from Oxford to San- 
gers in New Hartford, sho»s the part north from Sherburne still unfinished, 

A correspondent of the early days pays John F. Fairchild, publisher of iheOlh'f Branch, 
the handsome compliment of being the handsomest man in Sherburne ! 

The first lawsuit of record between Sherburne litigants took place at a session of the 
Court held at Elisha Payne's in Hamilton, October, 1799. The entry upon the ancient 
docket is, "Asa White vs. Lorain Curtis. Decision in favor of defendant: 25 cents and 
costs!" In those days the courts evidently dealt in elemental justice. 



io8 


\SSESSMKNT ROLL 


OF 


Alloni;Huti!liinsonJ2,6:)2 


Reuben Davis, 


168 


ApoUo-i AUiMi, 




.Matthew D.ivis, 


185 


Noali Allr'n, Jr.. 


20:i 


Job Davis, 


16'i 


WiU.iii Alloii, 




Ephraim Drew, 


113 


Daiiii-l Anili)r.S!)Q, 


881) 


Joel Ellis, 


20 J 


Jamus Auiloi-sou, 


i.ou;; 


Freeman Ellis, 


193 


Goorse Audorsuu, 


1,-tU 


James Elmore, 


610 


Tlu^ina^ Andni'sim 


, 420 


Thaddeus Elmore 


200 


Natliauiel Au>(iu, 


8(i:) 


WilLird Eddy, 


80) 


Stc'plic'U Austin, 


Mlt 


Zacdiariah Eddy, 


281 


JoiiaU Averill. 




Isaac Foot", 


1,633 


William Ali'Dtt. 


21 


Isaac Foote, Jr., 


332 


Juliu Billiiif,'s, 


488 


Samuel Foote, 


570 


Josoph BiUiiifjs, 


1,312 


Timothy Ferris, 


100 


Ai-nold Brig^s, 


221 


Benjamin Ferris, 


704 


Cri'iir^e Bri^-^s, 


l,:t.->l 


Israel Ferris, 


300 


lUifus Bi-i'„'s,'.-<, 


1.5:1 


Elijah Foster. 


838 


David BakiT, 


32S 


Henry Finn. 


2.12 


Elxmozci- Baker, 


320 


Jastm Far^^ii. 


332 


John Brown, 


(it 


Willi.un Finks, 


284 


Natliauiol Brown, 


'.1211 


Shubal Fuder. 




Natliauirl B. Brown, 4")6 


Joseph Faulkuer, 




John J. Brown, 


31.5 


William Faulkner, 


300 


Danit^l Brown, 




Peter Finch, 




Edward Ball, 




Nathaniel Gray, 


535 


An Iruw Bath's, 


200 


Elijah Gray, 


40:1 


William Bnrns, 


20 


Elisha Gr.iy, 


150 


Jarod Benodiot, 


2 53 


Nathauiid Gray, Jr., 51"! 


Natliau Benedict, 


310 


John Gray, 


884 


Richard Briant, 


420 


John (iray, Jr., 


70 


David Briant, 


45.1 


John Gould, 


310 


Koliert Bolt in. 


130 


Beujamiu Guthrie 


631 


Alii-ivni Bnrj<hardt 


i;io 


James Guthrie. 


1.441 


Moyi's Bronson, 


220 


James Guthrie, Jr. 


1,7,12 


Elisha Bronson, 


220 


John Guthrie, 




.lohn Beuten. 


847 


Joseph Guthrie, 


1,142 


Oliver Bartlett, 




Daniel D. G.irdine 


•• 32.;, 


Wvrnm Barllett, 


4)3 


Henry Gardiner, 


1.31: 


Isaac Bill, 


224 


Jolui Gilmore, 


213' 


Asa Cooper, 


200 


.Jacob Grow, 


4i5| 


Stephen Cooper, 


20:1 


.\lpheus Hall, 


438 


Samuel Converse, 


701 


Moses Hall, 


2?0 


Joseph Collins, 


81G 


Luke Hall, 


6I0I 


William Collins, 


518 


Noah Hall, 


610 


James Cornwell, 




Samuel Hill. 


310 


Isaac Criry, 


100 


.\arou Hutchinson 


, 7011 


Nathan Cr.iry, 


53 


Abel Hntchiusou, 


30il 


William Crane, 




Noah Hute'.iinsou, 


33 s 


Amos Cole, 


658 


Samuel Hait. 


481 


Cornelius (Mark, 


620 


Lebeus Hunt, 


2J0^ 


Daniel Clark, 


45 -i 


Allen Hammond. 


5;i0: 


John Clark. 


400 


Henrv Herrick 


388! 


Abner Calkins, 


1.7011 


Hn,'i; Herrick. 


3s; 


,\sa (Calkins, 


432 


John Herrick. 




Asa Calkins, Jr., 


150 


Jcdiii Hibbird, 


1,351 


David Calkins, 


189 


Daniel Hibbird, 


3,10, 


John Ci-andiiU, 


300 


,Joel Hatch. 


1,039 


Freeman Crandall 


28 1 


Timothy Hatch. 


972 


.Tames Curtis, 


119 


Orsamus Holmes, 


1,030 


lioraiu Cnrlis, 


400 


Daniel H illis. 


140 


Nathan Cutler, 


140 


Tlioni IS H irrison. 


47.s: 


.Joseph Dixon, 


1,829 


Thomas Howard, 


4501 


Itichard Dout^las, 


89 


John H<.)lliday, 


450 1 



SUERBURN1-: KOK 1801. 



Thomas Jenks, 
Solomon .Jones, 
Abram St. John, 
Fr'.'derie'.i Kashow 
Jolin Kashow, 
Stephen Kelsey, 
Charles Kelsey, 
Samuel Kelsey, 
Sylvanus Kelley, 
Edward Kibbe, 
Josiali I^athrop, 



David Rhett, 



266 



NON-RES 
Benjamin Walker, 1,320 



Eh^azer Lathi 
John Lathrop, 
Ezra Lathrop, 
Elias Ladd, 
William Ladd. 
l»''ujamin Lyon, 
(. yrns Lyon, 
Joel Lee, 
Joel Lee, Jr.. 
Daniel ,Mc Master, 
David Miller, 
' Noah Munn, 
John Muir. 
E|ihraim .Morev, 
Eli Marsh. 
John DeMott, 
David Norton, 
John Nichols, 
.\sa Northrop, 
Stephen Northrop. 
B"iijainin Northrop 
.Joel Norfirop. 
.A.u;,'nstin Odle. 1 
Austin Odle, 
U msoiu Odle, 
William Odle, 
Ncdson Otis. 
John Percival, 
John Parsons, 
Getn-ge Pease, 
Eber Parker. 
Stephen Parker. 1 
Sel.ih Picket. 
Samuel Picket, 
Josiah Purdy. 
Jfiremuih Pnrdy, 
Stephen PurJy, 
Svlvanus Peterson, 
Elisha Powell. 
Jonathan Pet;it, 
James Pettit, 
Ge irgF Pettit, 
Samuel Pixlev, 
John Parker," 
.Joseph Parkhurst, 
Nathan Porter, 
John Palmer, 
Philo Perry, 
Klam Parsons, 
Joel Peck, 
Jonah Poyer, 
Isaac Raymond, 

IDENTS. 

John Watts, 



2)5 
513 
575 
237 
3J8 
73' I 
185 
33J 

130 
!,0,33 
.,30s 
..881 
719 
200 
300 
43.1 
4011 
81 
340 
258 
68 < 
200 
33; 
3111 
528 
22^1 
448 
23) 
304 
452 
, 300. 
817 
,0j8! 



4)0 
570 
5 JO 
491 
253 
.212 
224 
70U 
27i 
213 
508 ] 
15,.) I 
281 
775 

125 

30 
281, 

140; 
158 
110 
23'. 
25.11 
7251 
312' 



Nowcomb Raymond, 728 
.James Raymond, 700 
.\braui liavniond, 720 
Siine'on Ki'xtord. 2,029 
Abijah Rogers, 334 

I Noah Robinson, 
1 John Rees, 360 

; John Rees, Jr., 300 

Jacob Rees, 681 

Joseph Rose, 
Nathaniel Rose, 
.Joseph Simons. 1.600 
Jouathan Simons, 
Elijah Sextim, 834 

Darius .SpcuTV, 490 

James Seiver, 154 

William stover, 815 

ObadiaU Spencer, 1,280 
Oliadiah Spencer, Jr., 
Elk cnah Spencer, 122 
Elisha Stanly, loo 

Tliaddens Stanly, 100 
Peier Shaw, 
William Shaw, 344 

.Samuel Shaw, 55J 

John Suttoe.. 4O0 

William Smith, 348 

•Job Spencer, 273 

Zadock Seymour, 728 
St'*plien Skinner, 440 
James Sherburne, 570 
Asel Stebbins. 284 

Walter Slingerland. 100 
Weston G. Thomas. 2o.| 
Joel Thompson. 633 

Caleb Thompson, 585 
.Samuel Thompson, 7o9 
Sam'l Thompson, Jr. 300 
Thos. R. Tracv. 483 

Joseph Tobey", 492 

Joshua Talcott, 1,408 
Joshu.i Talcott. Jr.. 510 
riios. Vorce. 264 

Aaron Van Vleet. 108 
Hopsou Wilcox. 1.562 
Hazard Wilcox, 612 

Rnssel Wilcox, 5s2 

Lillvbridge Wilcox, 604 
John Wilcox, 60i 

Seth Wells, 

N lah Wood, 415 

Abram West, 
Stephen Welton, 448 
Levi Welton, 575 

Joseph Weeks, 200 

David Wilber, 332 

Asa White, 184 

Bigelow Wat ^rs, 1,129' 
Elijah Whitney, 140 

Ephraim Whitney. 150 
Dyer Young. 



Total. 



11.545 John Lawrcuc 



S112.523 



33.383 



Total assessment of real and personal estate . - - 

Given under our hand this 27th day of .\ugiist. 1801. 

Jo.vATiiAN Pettit. Samuel Picket, 



J159,03S 



Apollos Allen, Assessors. 



OLD MAP OF PIU;Pi^IETOr.S 












i' ' 






t.i.._ 



/'.'. % -i 






t.^. 



/■irr-- 



I f-./::^:;,::.::'^ 






'.L_ >^;.>y: '^ !» 

ij^ ,v' A : A. f* 



■ . (■.,' ..../.^,.,k, ~ 7 






/.//.-/• .'/,i /s ,y 



. t'.''" u 



6;.;;-/,v^ 






h X^v<;/,%^/, 




•;;.,( 



!..,>/,.. -t/.-ft.- , ,, ^^x, . ■'.' /.'•.-/'■'■. i;Vt,. /3 "\ ■'~'A"'il' i''-/. r'^y /■/■',] Z' iJ i-- 

£ /;i^^'I^A,v' r".A^r Hf'-'^-- ; '^'^^'/^-y-, "i^-^. -^-^.-.X^^Jjr -^l^r^^ 






I 






.^Vi,/^ S» 






?L 1. ^. i 



., ! — r-^-r" i^::*? 



4 --(- ■ ' 



J» « r 













1 -M 






LAND OWNERS DESIGNATED ON MAI' OE PROPRIETORS. 



Nathaniel Gray, 
John Gray, 

F.I.ISHA (JRAY, 

NiiwcoMii Raymond, 
Abram Rasmonu, 
JamI'.s Raymond, 
JosiAH Lathrop, 
John Laihrop, 
Ezra Laihrop, 
Elkazkk Lmhrop, 
TiMoiHY Haich, 
Joel Hatch, 
Isaac Ray.monl, 
Cornelius Clark, 
Amos Cole, 
Orsamus Holmes, 
Stephen Purdv, 
Benjamin Ferris, 
George Anderson, 
Daniel Anderson, 
James Anderson, 
Guv Darrow, 
Alexander Miller. 
Elijah Foster, 
Nathaniel Gray, Jr. 
Frederick Kashow, 
Joseph Herrick, 
Joseph Dixon, 
Francis B. Bowker, 
Joel Norihrop, 
John Hikhard, 
Mr. Hah', 
Ministerial Lot, 
The Proprietors, 
John Miller, 



Lot No. 


ACBES 


I 


i33f 


I 2 


130 


10 


130 


20 


130 


5 


■25 


8 


I24f 


'6. 17, 27, 33 


533^ 


2, 4. 9. 39 


498f 


18 


184I 


1- ■.>• 15- 38. 43 


612 


6, 32 


23of 


3 


133^ 


19 


100 


3- 7 


192J 


14 


115 


13. 45 


1892 


23 


100 


II, 12, 22 


224 


10, 17, 24, 26 


300 


8,9 


261 


25 


:20 


28 


100 


37 


io8i 


4> 


■03^ 


29 


100 


1 1 


100 


21 


100 


30. 31. 3^' 


300 


34 


100 


35 


i33i 


14, 35 


262 


40 


100 


- 


50 


44 


33 


42 


io3i 



ADDITIONAL MP:M0RANDA. IO9 

Joshua Talcott, Sr., who was early of Sherburne West Hill, be- 
ing the first occupant of what was afterwards long known as the 
Demas Hubliard farm, was from Bolton, Con'n., where his first 
wife, Jemima, had died. He was the father of Joshua, Jr., and 
Harvey Talcott, of Smyrna, and of Jemima, who married Joshua 
Pratt. He died July lyth, 1S04. 

Judge Hezekiah Talcott, k'indred of Joshua, was born in VVeth- 
ersfield. Conn., June i-S, 1739, and came to the West Hill from 
Herkimer Co., being drawn thither l>y the fact that his two sons- 
in-law. Priest Knight and Asa Gifford, resided there. He lived on 
what was afterwards known as the Wooster ]>lace, where he died 
Dec. 3d, 1824. 



Rev. Dr. J. D. Fulton, the noteil Baptist divine, is a native of 
Sherburne, being the son of Re\-. John J. and Chirissa Dewev 
Fulton, his father having been the pastor of the old Baptist 
Church near P^arlville, at the time of his birth, March i, 1828. 

Among the teachers at the old Sherbtirne Academv whose 
names will lung be connected with it, were Rev. Dr. James Eells, 
and Rev. I. F. Pettibone. Tluir memory is indeed precious. 

Amos Cole, who was one of the earliest settlers was, accoriling 
to the tombstone data on the West Hill, four times married, him- 
self surviving until his 93d year. Had among other children 
sons F'estus and HeMiry who were fine musicians, the latter ha\-- 
ing been for a time organist of the Congregational Church. 

Eber Snow was the blacksmith on the West Hill during the 
early days, and it was his pretty daughter who became the wife 
of Dr. Seba Mead, who was for many years the principal ph\-si- 
cian in Sin\-rna. 

Nathaniel Gray was tlu' first agent for Judge Watts in the dispo- 
sal of his Sherburne lands, and in the summer of 1804 he stopped 
with him for a time in his then jvist ccunjjleted new house which 
is still standing nearl\- opjjosite the Quarter Cemetery. In the old 
Field Book of the survey of those lands made by Rix Burlingame 
in 1796, are references to Mr. Gray having sold this or that lot of 
land. 



no ADDITK^NAL M KMOK ANDA. 

Hatch's History says tliat the first bridge over the river was 
built near the junction of the Handsome Brook, to accommodate 
foot passengers, wliile teams forded tlie stream a sliort distance 
below. It consisted of one large tree in width and three in length, 
leveled on the upper side with the hewing axe Stakes driven a 
few feet apart near the outer edges, \vere interwoven with withs, 
to protect women and children from falling into the stream. A 
^voman by the name of Lathrop, rode across the britlge ^vith a 
child in her arms, to the astonishment of her friends and neighbors, 
in safetv. It ^\•as considered a hazardous umlei-taking, even to 
lead a horse over the structure. A Frenchman, rather than ride 
through the river, made the attesnpt, when, inifortunately, the 
horse fell upon the bridge, with his I'eet dangling on both sides, 
and was prevented from falling into the water by the stakes antl 
withs, which held iiim there, until the neighbors could be rallied, 
from a quarter to one mile around, in sulticient numljers to lift 
and support the horse across the remainder of the bridge, ^^•hieh, 
with considerable difficulty, tiiev were enabled to accomplish. 

It was near the eastern end of this bridge th.at the pioneers 
built their first rude log cabin, and trailition says it \\-as near that 
place that Joel Hatch and .Xeweomb Raymond i-loseil up their 
celebrated grindstone i-o-pannership by a di\'ision of the stock' 
on hand after the radical inamiei- that Solomon propt)sed to the 
two disputing \\-idows I And they were the liest of friemls e\er 
after. 

Among the school teachers of the earlier tlays not already men- 
tioned, are Col. Lorenzo Hatch. Philander Raymond, Caroline 
Mudge, Hannah Chai>man, Charles Allen, (ii.-orge W. W'ooster 
Semantlia Ra\-niond. and .Adaline Crandall, in the District on 
the west side of the river; one the West Hill, Deacon Joseph 
Adams, Irad Ra\-mond, Ji'.mes T. Giltbrd. Williams Aver\' ; in 
the Quarter District, winit-r of 1S24-5, Israel l-"oote; winter of 
1825-6, Alfred Raynu)nd. .Mr. Mandeville was a very successful 
teacher in the Sherburne Union School \vhen first establisheil; 
M^as afterwards Attorney General of California. Lysander Chap- 
man ^vas the terror of all the unrul\- schools in the town, .md ad- 
ministered cor])oreal ])unishmen.t with unsparing rigor 



ADDITIONAL MEMORANDA. Ill 



As an instance of liow helpful the neighbors were to each oth- 
er in the earl}' da\-s; Henry Gardiner, then living on the present 
Sidney Sanford place, had his barn struck by lightning one Satur- 
day night and consumed by fire. At the close of service on Sun- 
day Priest Knight announced that there would be a "bee" to help 
Mr. Gardiner on the following da}-; and by Tuesda}' night it had 
been fully rebuilt. And this reminds that Andrew Davis still 
points out the stump of a noble pine tree that the Hatches gave 
towards rebuilding Capt. Newton's Woollen Mill when it had been 
burned in 1816, it being riven into shingles for that purpose. 

Asa Foote, Sr., ^vas a Millwright, and he rebuilt the no^v Ker- 
shaw Mill \\-hL'n it had been burned about 1820, after which it is 
said that he owned it for a sln)rt time. 

Mills Landon, for many vears prominent in Sherburne, Justice 
of the Peace, &c., and who married for his second wife a sister of 
Mill' Hunt, removed to Spencerport. X. V., 1835, and died there in 
1864, in his 83d vear. A son resides in Rochester. 

Sidiiev Averv was a cabinet-maker at Sherburne for a perit)d 
prior \o 1845, ^^'ken he removed to Beh'idere, Ilk, where he didl 
1888, in his 88th year, leaving three chi dren Mrs. D. D. Sabin, Bel- 
videre, \Vm. D., of Chicago, and Rev. Eugene H. Averv of Vinton, 
111. Mrs. Avery was a daughter of Deacon Dickey. A choice family. 

Deacon Chester Hammond resided in the 8th township, but his 
children were all baptised at the oKl West Hill Church including 
j^ons. Rev. H. L. Hammond, eminent as a clergyman, ami Col. 
Chas. G. Hammond, who was President of the I'nion Pacific R. 
R.,and ]iroininent as a financier and philanthropist. His daugh- 
ter, Eleaner Eunice, married Mr. Hurd, and resides at Galesburg, 
Ilk; her st>n. Dr. Henry M. Hurd, is Supt of Johns Hopkins Hos- 
pital at Baltimore, Md. 

The Inn kept by John Guthrie when he was Postmaster and 
flourished for a time, was on the site of the present Daniels 
House, his predecessors having been Bela S. Scoville and Samuel 
Stebbins, and afterwards he was succeeded by Gardner Babcock, 
whose daughter became the wife of Judge Roswell Judson ; a 
Mr. Morris alsf) kept the jilace, and for a time it was called the 
Morris House. 



V^Ki 23 \90^ 



